Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
Title of Invention: WASHING MACHINE AND CONTROL
METHOD THEREOF
Technical Field
[11 The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and more
particularly, to a
washing machine with multiple tubs and control method of the washing machine.
Background Art
[2] In general, washing machines are devices for doing the laundry by
rotating its
cylindrical spinning tub that contains laundry.
[31 As for types of the washing machine, there are washers in which a drum
is hori-
zontally positioned to do the laundry by raising and dropping the laundry
along the
inner wall of the drum while rotating around the horizontal axis, and washers
in which
a drum having a pulsator therein is vertically positioned to do the laundry
using water
currents produced by the pulsator while the drum is rotating around the
vertical axis.
[4] The washer in which the drum is horizontally positioned is called a
front loading
washer because a laundry inlet is formed on the front, and the washer in which
the
drum is vertically positioned is called a top loading washer because a laundry
inlet is
formed on the top.
[51 Typical washing machines employ one of the two types to do the
laundry.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[6] To address the above-discussed deficiencies, it is a primary object to
provide a
washing machine equipped with a front-loading type washing device and a top-
loading
type washing device and control method of the washing machine.
171 The present disclosure also provides a washing machine equipped with
multiple
washing devices and control method thereof, to limit the power consumption to
no
more than the upper limit.
[81 The present disclosure also provides a washing machine and control
method thereof,
to prevent collisions between parts that are likely to occur during washing or
de-
hydrating operation.
191 The present disclosure also provides a washing machine and control
method thereof,
to properly control washing and dehydration based on the property of the load
to
maximize the washing and dehydration performance.
Solution to Problem
[10] In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a washing
machine includes
a first tub storing water; a first drum provided to be rotatable in the first
tub; a first
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driving motor for rotating the first drum; a second tub storing water; a
second drum
provided to be rotatable in the second tub; a second driving motor for
rotating the
second drum; at least one heater for heating water stored in at least one of
the first tub
and the second tub; and a controller configured to determine whether the at
least one
heater and the second driving motor are operating at a time to operate the
first driving
motor, and control operation of the second driving motor to be stopped and
control the
first driving motor to be operated when the at least one heater and the second
driving
motor are operating.
[11] The controller is configured to control operation of the second
driving motor after the
lapse of a reference time from when the operation of the second driving motor
is
stopped.
[12] The washing machine may further include: a current measurer for
measuring a
driving current for the first driving motor. The controller is configured to
determine
whether the measured driving current for the first driving motor is greater
than a prede-
termined reference current when the at least one heater, the first driving
motor, and the
second driving motor are operating simultaneously, and control operation of
the second
driving motor to be stopped when the measured driving current for the first
driving
motor is greater than the reference current.
[13] The controller is configured to control operation of the second
driving motor when
the measured driving current for the first driving motor becomes smaller than
the pre-
determined reference current.
[14] The controller is configured to determine whether the at least one
heater and the first
driving motor are operating while the second drum is performing a dehydrating
course,
control operation of the at least one heater to be stopped when the at least
one heater
and the first driving motor are operating, and control operation of the at
least one
heater when the dehydration course is completed.
[15] The controller is configured to control the second driving motor to be
rotated in a
first direction with first acceleration for a predetermined time in
controlling operation
of the second driving motor, and control the second driving motor to be
rotated in a
second direction with second acceleration after the lapse of the predetermined
time.
The first acceleration is less than the second acceleration. The first
direction is a ro-
tational direction opposite to the second direction.
[16] The controller is configured to determine a first parameter for
controlling operation
of the second drum, control the second drum based on a second parameter when
the
second drum performs an initial operation, determine whether an additional
operation
of the second drum is required, and control operation of the second drum based
on the
first parameter when it is determined that the additional operation of the
second drum
is not required.
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[17] The first parameter comprises at least one of a first operation ratio
of the second
drum, a first rotational acceleration of the second drum, and a first
rotational de-
celeration of the second drum. The second parameter comprises at least one of
a
second rotational acceleration, which is less than the first rotational
acceleration, and a
second rotational deceleration having an absolute value less than the first
rotational de-
celeration.
[18] The controller is configured to determine that the additional
operation of the second
drum is required when rotational speed of the second drum has not yet reached
a target
rotational speed, when an overcurrent is applied to the second driving motor,
or when
there is unbalanced distribution of laundry in the second drum.
[19] The controller is configured to set a load of the second drum to a
first load, control
operation of the second driving motor based on the first load, determine a
load
switching condition at a time to stop operation of the second drum, set the
load of the
second drum to a second load when it is determined that the load switching
condition
is met, and control operation of the second driving motor based on the second
load, in
controlling operation of the second driving motor.
[20] The load switching condition comprises at least one of whether the
rotational speed
of the second drum exceeds reference speed, whether the rotational
acceleration of the
second drum exceeds reference acceleration, and an error between target
rotational
speed and actual rotational speed.
[21] The controller is configured to determine at least one of a difference
between the
magnitude of a current applied to the second driving motor and a predetermined
reference magnitude and a difference between the frequency of a current
applied to the
second driving motor and a predetermined reference frequency when the load of
the
washing machine is set to the second load, and set the load of the second drum
back to
the first load when the at least one difference exceeds a predetermined
reference value.
[22] The controller comprises a first processor configured to control the
first driving
motor and a second processor configured to control the second driving motor.
The first
processor is configured to send a first driving signal to the second processor
while con-
trolling operation of the first driving motor when the at least one heater is
operating.
The second processor is configured to control operation of the second driving
motor to
be stopped in response to the first driving signal from the first processor.
[23] The first processor is configured to send the first driving signal to
the second
processor when the heater is operating and the first driving current of the
first driving
motor is greater than a predetermined reference current, and
[24] wherein the second processor is configured to control operation of the
second driving
motor to be stopped in response to the first driving signal from the first
processor.
[25] The second processor is configured to send a second driving signal to
the first
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processor while controlling operation of the second driving motor to dehydrate
laundry
contained in the second drum. The first processor is configured to control
operation of
the heater to be stopped in response to the second driving signal when the
first driving
motor and the heater are operating.
[26] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a control
method of a
washing machine, the method includes: rotating at least one of a first drum
and a
second drum based on an operation command input to a control panel; and
operating a
heater for heating water stored in a first tub containing the first drum based
on the
operation command input to the control panel. The rotating of the at least one
of the
first drum and the second drum comprises: determining whether the heater is
operating
and simultaneously, the second drum is rotating at a time to rotate the first
drum,
stopping rotation of the second drum and operating the first drum when the
heater is
operating and simultaneously, the second drum is rotating, and rotating the
second
drum again after the lapse of a reference time from when rotation of the
second drum is
stopped.
[27] The control method may further include: determining whether the heater
is operating
and simultaneously, the first drum is rotating when the second drum is
performing a
dehydration course; stopping operation of the heater when the heater is
operating and
simultaneously, the first drum is rotating; and operating the heater again
when the
second drum stops the dehydration course.
[28] The control method may further include: measuring a driving current of
the second
driving motor coupled to the first drum while the heater is operating and
simul-
taneously, both the first drum and the second drum are rotating; and stopping
the
rotation of the second drum when the measured current is greater than a
predetermined
reference current.
[29] The rotating of the at least one of the first drum and the second drum
comprises:
setting a load to a first load; rotating at least one of the first drum and
the second drum
based on the first load; determining a load switching condition at a time to
stop
rotation of at least one of the first drum and the second drum; setting the
load to a
second load, which is lower than the first load, when it is determined that
the load
switching condition is met; rotating at least one of the first drum and the
second drum
based on the set second load.
[30] The load switching condition comprises: at least one of whether the
rotational speed
of at least one drum exceeds reference speed, whether the rotational
acceleration of the
at least one drum exceeds reference acceleration, and an error between target
rotational
speed and actual rotational speed.
[31] The control method may further include: determining a difference
between the
magnitude of a current applied to a driving motor of at least one drum and a
prede-
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termined reference magnitude after the load is set to the second load;
determining a
difference between the frequency of a current applied to a driving motor of
the at least
one drum and a predetermined reference frequency; and setting the load back to
the
first load when the difference from the reference magnitude exceeds a
predetermined
reference value or when the difference from the reference frequency exceeds a
prede-
termined reference value.
[32] The rotating of the at least one of the first drum and the second drum
comprises: de-
termining a first parameter corresponding to rotation of at least one of the
first drum
and the second drum; rotating the at least one of the first drum and the
second drum
based on a second parameter, which is different from the first parameter, when
operation of the at least one of the first drum and the second drum is an
initial
operation; determining whether additional operation of the at least one of the
first drum
and the second drum needs to be performed; and rotating the at least one of
the first
drum and the second drum based on the first parameter when it is determined
that the
additional operation does not need to be performed.
[33] The determining of whether additional operation of the at least one of
the first drum
and the second drum needs to be performed comprises: determining whether
additional
operation of the at least one of the first drum and the second drum needs to
be
performed based on the second parameter based on at least one of a movement
form of
a water stream in the at least one of the first drum and the second drum, a
movement
form of laundry in the at least one of the first drum and the second drum, an
un-
balanced level of the laundry, rotational speed of the at least one of the
first drum and
the second drum, vibration of the at least one of the first drum and the
second drum,
and a current applied to a driving motor for driving the at least one of the
first drum
and the second drum.
[34] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be
advantageous
to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this
patent
document: the terms "include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof,
mean
inclusion without limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the
phrases
"associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof,
may mean
to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained
within, connect
to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with,
interleave,
juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or
the like;
and the term "controller" means any device, system or part thereof that
controls at least
one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or
software,
or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the
func-
tionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or
distributed,
whether locally or remotely.
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[35] Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or
supported by
one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable
program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms
"application"
and "program" refer to one or more computer programs, software components,
sets of
instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related
data, or a portion
thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program
code. The
phrase "computer readable program code" includes any type of computer code,
including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase "computer
readable medium" includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a
computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard
disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type
of
memory. A "non-transitory" computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless,
optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or
other
signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data
can be
permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten,
such as a
rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.
[36] Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this
patent
document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many,
if not most
instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such
defined words
and phrases.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[37] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a washing
machine equipped
with a front-loading type washing device and a top-loading type washing device
may
be provided.
[38] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a washing
machine having
multiple washing devices and limiting the power consumption to no more than an
upper limit may be provided.
[39] According to an embodiment of a washing machine and control method
thereof,
collisions between parts that are likely to occur during washing or
dehydrating
operation due to e.g., a reverse load may be prevented, and accordingly, life-
shortening
of the parts may be prevented and efficiency and economic feasibility of the
washing
machine may be improved.
[40] According to an embodiment of a washing machine and control method
thereof,
washing operation and/or dehydrating operation of the washing machine may be
controlled properly based on a load property, and accordingly, washing and/or
de-
hydrating performance of the washing machine may be maximized.
[41] According to an embodiment of a washing machine and control method
thereof, un-
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balanced distribution of laundry may be prevented, and accordingly, vibration
or un-
necessary process, for example, re-try of dehydration due to the unbalanced
dis-
tribution of the laundry may be prevented or minimized.
Brief Description of Drawings
[42] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its
advantages,
reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with
the ac-
companying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:
[43] FIG. 1 shows the exterior of a washing machine, according to an
embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[44] FIG. 2 shows a washing machine with a first washing device and a
second washing
device separated, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[45] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine, according to an
embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[46] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second housing of the washing machine
shown in
FIG. 2;
[47] FIG. 5 shows a control panel of a washing machine, according to an
embodiment of
the present disclosure;
[48] FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a washing machine, according to
an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[49] FIG. 7 shows an example of operation of a washing machine, according
to an em-
bodiment of the present disclosure;
[50] FIG. 8 shows an example of operation of a first drum during washing of
the washing
machine shown in FIG. 7;
[51] FIG. 9 shows an example of operation of a second drum during washing
of the
washing machine shown in FIG. 7;
[52] FIG. 10 shows an example of operation of the first drum during
dehydration of the
washing machine shown in FIG. 7;
[53] FIG. 11 shows an example of water heating operation of a washing
machine,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[54] FIG. 12 shows an example of operation of a heater according to the
water heating
operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 11;
[55] FIG. 13 shows an example of operation of a washing machine, according
to an em-
bodiment of the present disclosure;
[56] FIG. 14 shows an example of operation of a heater and operation of a
drum
according to operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 13;
[57] FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a washing machine,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
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[58] FIG. 16 shows an example of operation of a heater and operation of a
drum
according to operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 15;
[59] FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a washing machine,
according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[60] FIG. 18 shows an example of operation of a heater and operation of a
drum
according to operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 17;
[61] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating operation of a washing machine,
according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[62] FIG. 20 shows an example of operation of a heater and operation of a
drum
according to operation of the washing machine shown in FIG. 19;
[63] FIG. 21 is a control block diagram of a washing machine, according to
another em-
bodiment of the present disclosure;
[64] FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining operation of a controller,
according to an em-
bodiment of the present disclosure;
[65] FIG.23 is a graph for explaining operation of a drum based on a first
parameter,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[66] FIG. 24 is a graph for explaining operation of a drum based on a
second parameter in
a case that an initial operation is performed;
[67] FIG. 25 is a control block diagram of a washing machine, according to
another em-
bodiment of the present disclosure;
[68] FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining operation of a controller,
according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[69] FIG. 27 is a view for explaining an amount of laundry corresponding to
a first load;
[70] FIG. 28 is a view for explaining an amount of laundry corresponding to
a second
load;
[71] FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a control method of a washing machine,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[72] FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a control method of a washing machine,
according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
[73] FIGS. 1 through 30, discussed below, and the various embodiments used
to describe
the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of
il-
lustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of
the
disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of
the present
disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.
[74] Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. Not
all elements of
embodiments of the present disclosure will be described, and description of
what are
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commonly known in the art or what overlap each other in the embodiments will
be
omitted. The terms as used throughout the specification, such as "¨ part", "¨
module",
"¨ member", "¨ block", etc., may be implemented in software and/or hardware,
and a
plurality of "¨ parts", "¨ modules", "¨ members", or "¨ blocks" may be
implemented in
a single element, or a single "¨ part", "¨ module", "¨ member", or "¨ block"
may
include a plurality of elements.
[75] It will be further understood that the term "connect" or its
derivatives refer both to
direct and indirect connection, and the indirect connection includes a
connection over a
wireless communication network.
[76] The term "include (or including)" or "comprise (or comprising)" is
inclusive or open-
ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps,
unless
otherwise mentioned.
[77] Throughout the specification, when it is said that a member is located
"on" another
member, it implies not only that the member is located adjacent to the other
member
but also that a third member exists between the two members.
[78] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,
etc., may be used
herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or
sections, these
elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by
these
terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component,
region, layer
or section from another region, layer or section.
[79] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
include plural
references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[80] Reference numerals used for method steps are just used for convenience
of ex-
planation, but not to limit an order of the steps. Thus, unless the context
clearly dictates
otherwise, the written order may be practiced otherwise.
[81] The principle and embodiments of the present disclosure will now be
described with
reference to accompanying drawings.
[82] FIG. 1 shows the exterior of a washing machine, according to an
embodiment of the
present disclosure, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a washing machine where a
first
washing device and a second washing device are separated, according to an em-
bodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a
washing
machine, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 4 is an
exploded
view of a second washing device of the washing machine shown in FIG. 2, and
FIG. 5
shows a control panel of a washing machine, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[83] A washing machine 1 may include various mechanical devices for doing
the laundry.
[84] For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the washing machine 1 may
include a first
washing device 10 of a front-loading type with a first laundry inlet 11 formed
on the
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front, and a second washing device 20 of a top-loading type with a second
laundry inlet
21 formed on the top. The second washing device 20 may be installed above the
first
washing device 10.
[85] It is, however, merely an example, and it is also possible that both
the first washing
device 10 and the second washing device 20 are implemented in the front-
loading type
or in the top-loading type.
[86] Furthermore, the first washing device 10 and the second washing device
20 may be
vertically arranged as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, or may be horizontally arranged
in
parallel.
[87] The first washing device 10 may include a first drum 13 in which a
first washing
space is formed and a first tub 14 containing the first drum 13 and storing
water for
washing or rinsing to be used in a washing course or a rinsing course. The
first drum
13 and the first tub 14 may be shaped like a cylinder with at least a portion
of a side
opened, and the open portion may be positioned almost toward the front.
[88] The washing machine 1 may include a first housing 30 containing the
first washing
device 10.
[89] The first washing device 10 may include a first driving motor 40
arranged behind the
first tub 14 to rotate the first drum 13. A first driving shaft 41 may be
provided on the
rear side of the first drum 13 for transferring power from the first driving
motor 40.
[90] A lot of first through holes 13a may be formed along the circumference
of the first
drum 13 for water circulation. On the inner circumference of the first drum
13, a
plurality of lifters 13b may be provided to enable the laundry to be moved up
and
down while the first drum 13 is rotating. A first balancer 17 may be equipped
on a
front portion of the first drum 13 to help the first drum 13 stably spin at
high speed.
[91] The first driving shaft 41 may be arranged between the first drum 13
and the first
driving motor 40. The first driving shaft 41 may be coupled to the back plate
of the
first drum 13 at one end, may pass through the back wall of the first tub 14,
extend to
the outside of the back wall of the first tub 14, and may be coupled to the
first driving
motor 40 at the other end. When the first driving motor 40 rotates the first
driving shaft
41, the first drum 13 coupled to the first driving shaft 41 is rotated around
the first
driving shaft 41.
[92] The first washing device 10 may do the laundry with hot water. To
obtain hot water,
a first heater 18 may be provided on the bottom of the first tub 14 to heat
the water
stored in the first tub 14. The first washing device 10 may further include a
tem-
perature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water contained in the
first tub 14.
[93] The first washing device 10 may include a first drain pump 51 arranged
in a lower
portion of the first tub 14 for draining the water out of the washing machine
1 from
inside the first tub 14, a first coupling hose 52 coupling a first drain 14a
of the first tub
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14 and the first drain pump 51 for allowing the water inside the first tub 14
to flow into
the first drain pump 51, a circulation hose 53 coupling the first drain pump
51 and the
first tub 14 for circulating the water flowing into the first drain pump 51 to
the first tub
14, and a first drain hose 54 for guiding the water pumped by the first drain
pump 51 to
the outside of the washing machine 1.
[94] The washing machine 1 may include a front cover 33 with the first
laundry inlet 11
through which laundry (e.g., clothes) may be thrown into the first washing
space 12 of
the first washing device 10. A first door 60 may be arranged on the front
cover 33 for
opening or closing the first laundry inlet 11.
[95] The first door 60 may be arranged to correspond to the first laundry
inlet 11 and to be
able to pivot on the front cover 33.
[96] The first door 60 may have an auxiliary laundry inlet 61 through which
to throw
clothes into the first washing space 12 while the first door 60 is closed, and
an
auxiliary door 62 to open or close the auxiliary laundry inlet 61.
[97] The user may be able to easily throw the laundry into the first drum
13 through the
auxiliary laundry inlet 61.
[98] An embodiment where the auxiliary door 61 is equipped on the first
door 60 has thus
far been described, but it is not limited thereto.
[99] The second washing device 20 may include a second drum 23 in which a
second
washing space 22 is formed and a second tub 24 containing the second drum 23
and
storing water to be used in a washing course or a rinsing course. The second
drum 23
and the second tub 24 may be shaped like a cylinder with at least a portion of
a side
open, and the open portion may be positioned almost toward the top.
[100] The second washing device 20 may include a second housing 35. A
second laundry
inlet 21 may be formed to correspond to a second opening 26 of the second tub
24.
[101] The second washing device 20 may include a second door 80 to open or
close the
second laundry inlet 21. The second door 80 may be arranged to correspond to
the
second laundry inlet 21 and to be able to pivot on the housing 35.
[102] The second door 80 may be formed with a transparent material allowing
the inside of
the second washing space 22ub 22 and the content in the second washing space
22 to
be seen from outside of the washing machine 1 while the second door 80 closes
the
second laundry inlet 21.
[103] The second drum 23 may have a cylindrical form with the open top and
may be
arranged to be able to rotate within the second tub 24. A lot of second
through holes
23a may be formed in the side of the second drum 23 for water circulation. A
second
balancer 27 may be equipped on an upper portion of the second drum 23 to help
the
second drum 23 stably spin at high speed.
11041 There may be a curved portion 29 formed on the bottom of the second
drum 23 for
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creating water streams. Furthermore, a pulsator may be formed on the bottom of
the
second drum 23 to create water streams.
[105] The second opening 26 may be formed on the top of the second tub 23
to correspond
to the second laundry inlet 21, and there may be an internal door 85 provided
to open
or close the second opening 26. The internal door 85 may prevent water for
washing or
rinsing from leaking out during a washing or rinsing course.
[106] The internal door 85 may be pivotally mounted on the second tub 24.
On a side of the
internal door 85, a door handle is provided for the user to open the internal
door 85.
The internal door 85 may be formed with a transparent material allowing the
inside of
the second drum 23 to be seen even while the internal door 85 closes the
second
opening 26.
[107] The second washing device 20 may include a second driving motor 45
arranged
under the outside of the second tub 24 to rotate the second drum 23. A second
driving
shaft 46 may be provided on the bottom side of the second drum 23 for
transferring
power from the second driving motor 45. The second driving shaft 46 may be
coupled
to the bottom side of the second drum 23 at one end, may pass through the
lower wall
of the second tub 24, extend to the outside of the lower wall of the second
tub 24, and
may be coupled to the second driving motor 45 at the other end. When the
second
driving motor 45 rotates the second driving shaft 46, the second drum 23
coupled to
the second driving shaft 46 may be rotated around the second driving shaft 46.
[108] If the pulsator is arranged on the bottom of the second drum 23 in
some em-
bodiments, the second washing device 20 may further include a clutch device to
transfer the driving force produced by the second driving motor 45 to the
second drum
23 and the pulsator simultaneously or selectively.
[109] The second washing device 20 may do the laundry with hot water. To
obtain hot
water, a second heater 28 may be provided on the bottom of the second tub 24
to heat
the water stored in the second tub 24. The second washing device 20 may
further
include a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the water
contained in the
second tub 24.
[110] The second washing device 20 may include a second drain pump 56 to
drain water
inside the second tub 24 out of the washing machine 1, and the second drain
pump 56
may be fixed on the top of the first housing 30 of the first washing device
10. The
second washing device 20 may further include a second drain hose 59 to guide
the
water pumped by the second drain pump 56 to the outside of the washing machine
1.
[111] A second drain 24a is formed on the bottom of the second tub 24 to
drain water out
of the second tub 24, and a second coupling hose 57 is provided between the
second
drain 24a and the second drain pump 56 to guide the water of the second tub 24
to the
second drain pump 56.
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[112] The washing machine 1 includes a water supplier 71 for supplying
water to the first
tub 14 of the first washing device 10 and the second tub 24 of the second
washing
device 20.
[113] For example, the water supplier 71 may include a first water supply
tube extending
from an external water source to the first tub 14, and a first water supply
valve
arranged in the first water supply tube to allow water to be supplied or block
water
from being supplied to the first tub 14. Furthermore, the water supplier 71
may include
a second water supply tube extending from the external water source to the
second tub
24, and a second water supply valve arranged in the second water supply tube
to allow
water to be supplied or block water from being supplied to the second tub 24.
[114] The water supplier 71 is arranged inside the second housing 35 of the
second
washing device 20. For example, the water supplier 71 may be arranged behind
the
second laundry inlet 21.
[115] The washing machine 1 includes a first detergent supplier 73 for
supplying a
detergent and/or a fabric softener to the first washing device 10 and a second
detergent
supplier 72 for supplying a detergent and/or fabric softener to the second
washing
device 20.
[116] Water may be supplied to the first tub 14 via the first detergent
supplier 73, and
while the water passes the first detergent supplier 73, the detergent may be
supplied to
the first tub 14 along with the water.
[117] The washing machine 1 may include a fixing bracket 39 to securely
combine the first
washing device 10 and the second washing device 20. The fixing bracket 39 may
fix
the first washing device 10 and the second washing device 20 at the front of
the first
and second washing devices 10 and 20.
[118] A control panel 90 may be provided in an upper portion of the front
cover 33. The
control panel 90 may include an input for receiving inputs about operations of
the first
and second washing devices 10 and 20 from the user and a display for
displaying in-
formation about operations of the first and second washing devices 10 and 20
to the
user.
[119] As shown in FIG. 5, the control panel 90 may include a first section
SE1 to receive
inputs of operations of the first washing device 10 and display information
about
operation of the first washing device 10, and a second section SE2 to receive
inputs of
operations of the second washing device 20 and display information about
operation of
the second washing device 20.
[120] The control panel 90 may display a power button P in the center to
control on/off of
the power of the washing machine 1. When the power button P is touched or
pushed,
the control panel 90 may receive a command to turn on the power.
11211 Once the command to turn on the power is input as the power button P
is touched or
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pushed, power may be supplied to the washing machine 1. The control panel 90
may
display various selectable objects.
[122] In the first section SE1, a first start/pause button S/P1 to start
and/or pause operation
of the first washing device 10, a first washing course button Cl that may
select a
washing course to be performed by the first washing device 10, a first details
setting
button Si to select setting details, such as a water temperature, the number
of rinsing
times, a dehydration level, etc., depending on the selected washing course,
and a first
option selection button 01 to select an option such as cleaning of the first
washing
device 10.
[123] Furthermore, in the first section SE1, a first activation indicator
L11 to indicate
whether the first washing device 10 is activated, a first course indicator L12
to indicate
a selected washing course, a first setting indicator L13 to indicate a
selected setting
detail, a first option indicator L14 to indicate a selected option, and a
first time in-
dication panel Ti to indicate time of operation of the first washing device 10
may
further be provided.
[124] In the second section 5E2, a second start/pause button S/P2 to start
and/or pause
operation of the second washing device 20, a second washing course button C2
that
may select a washing course to be performed by the second washing device 20,
and a
second details setting button S2 to select second setting details, such as a
water tem-
perature, the number of rinsing times, a dehydration level, etc., depending on
the
selected washing course may be provided.
[125] Furthermore, in the second section 5E2, a second activation indicator
L21 to indicate
whether the second washing device 20 is activated, a second course indicator
L22 to
indicate a selected washing course, a second setting indicator L23 to indicate
a selected
setting detail, and a second time indication panel T2 to indicate time of
operation of the
second washing device 20 may further be provided.
[126] FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of a washing machine, according to
an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[127] The washing machine 1 may include an electric device for controlling
operation of
mechanical devices included in the washing machine 1.
[128] As shown in FIG. 6, the washing machine 1 may include the control
panel 90, a tem-
perature detector 120, the water supplier 71, a drain system 50, a first
driver 130, a
second driver 140, a heater 150, and a controller 110.
[129] The control panel 90 may include the first section SE1 and the second
section 5E2.
[130] The control panel 90 may output an input about an operation of the
first washing
device 10 received from the user through the first area SE1 to the controller
110, and
output an input about an operation of the second washing device 20 received
from the
user through the second area 5E2 to the controller 110.
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[131] The shape and function of the control panel 90 is the same as what is
described above
in connection with FIG. 5.
[132] The temperature detector 120 may include a first temperature sensor
121 for
measuring the temperature of water contained in the first tub 14 and a second
tem-
perature sensor 122 for measuring the temperature of water contained in the
second tub
24.
[133] The first temperature sensor 121 is installed inside the first tub 14
for outputting an
electric signal corresponding to the temperature of water contained in the
first tub 14 to
the controller 110. For example, the first temperature sensor 121 may include
a
thermistor whose electric resistance is changed according to the temperature.
[134] The second temperature sensor 122 is installed inside the second tub
24 for
outputting an electric signal corresponding to the temperature of water
contained in the
second tub 24 to the controller 110. For example, the second temperature
sensor 122
may also include a thermistor.
[135] The water supplier 71 may supply water to the first tub 14 of the
first washing device
10 and/or the second tub 24 of the second washing device 20 from an external
water
source. The drain system 50 may drain water contained in the first tub 14 of
the first
washing device 10 and/or in the second tub 24 of the second washing device 20
to the
outside of the washing machine 1.
[136] The first driver 130 may include the first driving motor 40 for
rotating the first drum
13 and a first driving circuit 131 for applying a first driving current to the
first driving
motor 40.
[137] The first driving motor 40 may produce rotational force from the
power of an
external power source and transfer the rotational force to the first drum 131
through the
first driving shaft 41. The first driving motor 40 may employ a brushless
direct current
motor (BLDC) motor or a synchronous motor that easily controls rotation speed.
Alter-
natively, the first driving motor 40 may employ an inexpensive direct current
motor
(DC motor) or an induction motor.
[138] The first driving circuit 131 may apply the first driving current to
the first driving
motor 40 in response to a control signal from the controller 110. For example,
the first
driving circuit 131 may include an inverter circuit for applying the first
driving current
calculated based on a first speed instruction from the controller 110 and a
rotation
speed of the first driving motor 40 to the first driving motor 40.
Furthermore, the first
driving circuit 131 may include a power switching circuit to allow or block
the current
from being applied to the first driving motor 40 in response to an on/off
instruction
from the controller 110.
[139] The washing machine may further include a current measurer for
detecting a current
applied to the first driving motor 40.
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[140] The second driver 140 may include the second driving motor 45 for
rotating the
second drum 23 and a second driving circuit 141 for applying a second driving
current
to the second driving motor 45.
[141] The second driving motor 45 may produce rotational force from the
power of an
external power source and transfer the rotational force to the second drum 23
through
the second driving shaft 46. The second driving motor 45 may employ a BLDC
motor,
a synchronous motor, a DC motor, or an induction motor.
[142] The second driving circuit 141 may apply the second driving current
to the second
driving motor 45 in response to a control signal from the controller 110, and
may
include an inverter circuit or a power switching circuit.
[143] The washing machine may further include a current measurer for
detecting a current
applied to the second driving motor 45.
[144] The heater 150 may include a first heater 18 for heating the water
contained in the
first tub 14 and a second heater 28 for heating the water contained in the
second tub 24.
[145] The first heater 18 may include an electric resistor heated by
electric power and a
switching circuit for controlling the power to be supplied to the electric
resistor. The
first heater 18 may heat the water contained in the first tub 14 according to
a control
signal from the controller 110.
[146] The second heater 28 may include an electric resistor and a switching
circuit and may
heat the water contained in the second tub 24 according to a control signal of
the
controller 110. The controller 110 may include first and second memories 112a
and
112 for memorizing/storing the program and data for controlling operation of
the
washing machine 1, and first and second processors 111a and 111b for creating
control
signals to control operation of the washing machine 1 according to the program
and
data memorized/stored in the first and second memories 112a and 112b. The
first and
second processors 111a and 111b and the first and second memories 112a and
112b
may be implemented in separate chips or in a single chip.
[147] The first and second memories 112a and 112b may store a control
program and
control data for controlling operation of the washing machine 1 and store
various ap-
plication programs and application data for performing various functions
according to
the user's input. Furthermore, the first and second memories 112a and 112b may
memorize the user's input received through the control panel 90, or memorize
the tem-
perature of water contained in the first tub 14 and/or the second tub 24
detected by the
temperature detector 120.
[148] The first and second memories 112a and 112b may include volatile
memories, such
as Static Random Access Memories (S-RAMs), Dynamic RAMs (D-RAMs), or the
like for temporarily storing data, and non-volatile memories, such as Read
Only
Memories (ROMs), Erasable Programmable ROMs (EPROMs), Electrically Erasable
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Programmable ROMs (EEPROMs), flash memories or the like for storing data for a
long time.
[149] The first and second processors 111a and 111b may include logic
circuits and
operation circuits to process data under a program provided from the first and
second
memories 112a and 112b and create a control signal according to the result of
the
process.
[150] The first and second processors 111a and 111b may communicate with
each other.
[151] For example, the first and second processors 111a and 111b may
process the user's
input received from the control panel 90 and an output of the temperature of
the tem-
perature detector 120, and create control signals to perform a washing course,
a rinsing
course, and a dehydrating course according to the user's input and the
temperature
output.
[152] Specifically, the first and second processors 111a and 111b may
output a water
supply signal to the water supplier to supply water to the first tub 14 or the
second tub
24, and output a washing operation signal to the first driver 140 or the
second driver
140 to rotate the first drum 13 or the second drum 23 according to the laundry
course.
[153] Furthermore, the first and second processors 111a and 111b may output
a water drain
signal to the drain system to drain water contained in the first tub 14 or the
second tub
24, and output a dehydration driving signal to the first driver 140 or the
second driver
140 to rotate the first drum 13 or the second drum 23 based on the dehydration
level.
[154] Moreover, the first and second processors 111a and 111b may output a
heating signal
to the heater 150 to heat the water contained in the first tub 14 or the
second tub 24
until the temperature of the water reaches a set temperature set by the user.
[155] Although a pair of the first and second processors 111a and 111b and
a pair of the
first and second memories 112a and 112b are shown in FIG. 5, the number of the
processors and the number of memories are not limited thereto.
[156] The controller 110 may include a plurality of processors and a
plurality of memories.
For example, the controller 110 may include the first memory for storing the
program
and data for controlling the first washing device 10, the first processor 111a
for
creating control signals to control the first washing device 10 based on the
user's input
through the first section SE1 of the control panel 90, the second memory for
storing the
program and data to control the second washing device 20, and the second
processor
111b for creating control signals to control the second washing device 20
based on the
user's input through the second section 5E2 of the control panel 90. The first
and
second processors 111a and 111b may communicate with each other.
[157] The controller 110 controls operations of the first and second
washing devices 10 and
20.
11581 In this way, the controller 110 may enable a washing course, a
rinsing course, and a
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dehydrating course to be performed by controlling the water supplier 71, the
drain
system 50, the first driver 130, the second driver 140, and the heater 150
included in
the washing machine 1 based on the user's input through the control panel 90
and the
output of the temperature detector 120.
[159] It may be seen that operation of the washing machine 1, as will be
described below,
may be performed under the control of the controller 110.
[160] FIG. 7 shows an example of operation of a washing machine, according
to an em-
bodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 8 shows an example of operation of a
first
drum during washing of the washing machine shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 shows an
example of operation of a second drum during washing of the washing machine
shown
in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 shows an example of operation of the first drum during
de-
hydration of the washing machine shown in FIG. 7.
[161] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, operation 1000 of the washing machine 1
will be briefly
described.
[162] The washing machine 1 may perform a washing course 1010, a rinsing
course 1020
and a dehydrating course 1030 in sequence under a control instruction of the
controller
110 based on the user's input.
[163] The first and second washing devices 10 and 20 may independently
perform the
washing course 1010, rinsing course 1020, and a dehydrating course 1030.
[164] The washing course 1010 is a course to remove foreign materials from
the laundry by
a chemical action of a detergent and/or a mechanical action such as friction.
[165] The washing course 1010 may include supplying of water 1011 that
supplies water to
the first tub 14 and/or the second tub 24, washing 1012 that washes the
laundry by
spinning the first drum 13 and/or the second drum 23, draining of water 1013
that
drains water contained in the first tub 14 and/or the second tub 24, and
intermediate de-
hydration 1014 that separates water from the laundry by spinning the first
drum 13
and/or the second drum 23.
[166] During the supplying of water, a detergent may be added into the
first tub 14 and/or
the second tub 24 along with the water.
[167] The controller 110 may control the water supplier 71 to supply water
to the first tub
14 when the first washing device 10 starts operating, and control the water
supplier 71
to supply water to the second tub 24 when the second washing device 20 starts
operating.
[168] The controller 110 may enable the first washing device 10 to do the
laundry in the
front-loading type by using falling or rolling of the laundry from rotation of
the first
drum 13.
[169] For this, during the washing 1012 of the first washing device 10, the
controller 110
may control the first driver 130 to rotate the first drum 13 clockwise or
counter-
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clockwise. At this time, the controller 110 may output a speed instruction for
the first
drum 13 to the first driver 130.
[170] In controlling the washing course of the first washing device 10, the
controller 110
may control the first driver 130 to repeat alternate rotation of the first
drum 13
clockwise and counterclockwise.
[171] As shown in FIG. 8, the controller 110 controls the first driver 130
to rotate the first
drum 13 clockwise (CW) for a first period of time (Ti).
[172] When the first drum that is rotating clockwise reaches a first
rotational speed (RS1),
the controller 110 controls the first driver 130 to maintain the first drum 13
to be
rotated at the first rotational speed RS1, and after the lapse of the first
period of time
Ti of the clockwise rotation, the controller 110 controls the first driver 130
to stop
rotation of the first drum 13 for a second period of time T2.
[173] The first rotational speed RS1 may be about 45 revolution per minutes
(rpm) to 60
rpm.
[174] The controller 110 controls the first driver 130 to rotate the first
drum 13 counter-
clockwise (CCW) for the first period of time (Ti).
[175] When the first drum that is rotating counterclockwise reaches the
first rotational
speed (RS1), the controller 110 controls the first driver 130 to maintain the
first drum
13 to be rotated at the first rotational speed RS1, and after the lapse of the
first period
of time Ti of the counterclockwise rotation, the controller 110 controls the
first driver
130 to stop rotation of the first drum 13 for the second period of time T2.
[176] During the washing 1012 of the second washing device 20, the
controller 110 may
control the second driver 140 to rotate the second drum 23 clockwise or
counter-
clockwise. At this time, the controller 110 may output a speed instruction for
the
second drum 23 to the second driver 140.
[177] In controlling the washing course of the second washing device 20,
the controller 110
may control the second driver 140 to repeat alternate rotation of the second
drum 23
clockwise and counterclockwise.
[178] The controller 110 may enable the second washing device 20 to do the
laundry in the
top-loading type by using water streams inside the second drum 23 from
rotation of the
second drum 23.
[179] As shown in FIG. 9, the controller 110 may control the second driver
140 to rotate
the second drum 23 clockwise (CW) for a third period of time (T3).
[180] The controller 110 may control the second driver 140 to reduce the
rotational speed
of the second drum 23 when the second drum 23 that is rotating clockwise
reaches
second rotational speed RS2, and control the second driver 140 to stop
rotation of the
second drum 24 for a fourth period of time T4 when the rotational speed of the
second
drum 23 becomes zero.
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[181] The third period of time T3 for which the second drum 23 is rotated
may be shorter
than the first period of time Ti for which the first drum 13 is rotated. The
controller
110 may control the third period of time T3 to be shorter so as to increase
the force of
the water streams inside the first drum 23.
[182] The fourth period of time T4 for which rotation of the second drum 23
is stopped
may be shorter than the second period of time T2 for which the rotation of the
first
drum 23 is stopped.
[183] The controller 110 may control the second driver 140 to rotate the
second drum 23
counterclockwise (CCW) for the third period of time (T3).
[184] The controller 110 may control the second driver 140 to reduce the
rotational speed
of the second drum 23 when the second drum 23 that is rotating
counterclockwise
reaches the second rotational speed RS2, and control the second driver 140 to
stop
rotation of the second drum 24 for the fourth period of time T4 when the
rotational
speed of the second drum 23 becomes zero.
[185] During the draining of water 1013, the controller 110 may control the
first drain
pump 51 to drain the water contained in the first tub 14 if the first washing
device 10 is
operating, and control the second drain pump 56 to drain the water contained
in the
second tub 24 if the second washing device 20 is operating.
[186] During the intermediate dehydration 1014, the controller 1014 may
control the first
driver 130 to rotate the first drum 13 at high speed if the first washing
device 10 is
operating, and control the second driver 140 to rotate the second drum 23 at
high speed
if the second washing device 20 is operating.
[187] The controller 110 may output a speed instruction for the first drum
13 to the first
driver 130 during the intermediate dehydration of the first washing device 10,
and may
output a speed instruction for the second drum 23 to the second driver 140
during the
intermediate dehydration of the second washing device 20.
[188] The high-speed rotation of the first drum 13 may enable water to be
separated from
the laundry contained in the first drum 13 and discharged out of the washing
machine
1, and the high-speed rotation of the second drum 23 may enable water to be
separated
from the laundry contained in the second drum 23 and discharged out of the
washing
machine 1.
[189] As shown in FIG. 10, the controller 110 may control the first driver
130 to increase
the rotational speed of the first drum 13 stepwise during the intermediate
dehydration.
[190] Specifically, the controller 110 may increase the rotational speed of
the first drum 13
to third rotational speed R53, maintain the rotational speed of the first drum
13 at the
third rotational speed R53 from a first point of time ti when the rotational
speed of the
first drum 13 reaches the third rotational speed R53 to a second point of time
t2,
increase the rotational speed of the first drum 13 to fourth rotational speed
R54 from
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the second point t2, and maintain the rotational speed of the first drum 13 at
the fourth
rotational speed RS4 from a third point of time t3 when the rotational speed
of the first
drum 13 reaches the fourth rotational speed RS4 to a fourth point of time t4.
[191] The controller 110 may increase the rotational speed of the first
drum 13 to fifth ro-
tational speed RS5 from the fourth point t4, maintain the rotational speed of
the first
drum 13 at the fifth rotational speed RS5 from a fifth point of time t5 when
the ro-
tational speed of the first drum 13 reaches the fifth rotational speed RS5 to
a sixth
point of time t6, and reduce the rotational speed of the first drum 13 from
the sixth
point t6.
[192] The third rotational speed RS3 and the fourth rotational speed RS4
may be a few
hundred rpm, and the fourth rotational speed RS4 may be greater than the third
ro-
tational speed RS3. The fifth rotational speed RS5 may be around a thousand
rpm, and
may be greater than the fourth rotational speed RS4 and the third rotational
speed RS3.
[193] In this way, by increasing the rotational speed of the first drum 13
stepwise during
the intermediate dehydration 1014, vibrations of the first drum 13 and the
first tub 14
from unbalanced laundry inside the first drum 13 may be damped.
[194] When the intermediate dehydration 1014 is completed, the washing
course 1010 is
finished and the rinsing course 1020 may begin.
[195] The rinsing course 1020 may be a course to wash away the detergent or
stain left on
the laundry by friction with water.
[196] The rinsing course 1020 may include supplying of water 1021 that
supplies water to
the first tub 14 and/or the second tub 24, rinsing 1022 that rinses the
laundry by
spinning the first drum 13 and/or the second drum 23, draining of water 1023
that
drains water contained in the first tub 14 and/or the second tub 24, and
intermediate de-
hydration 1024 that separates water from the laundry by spinning the first
drum 13
and/or the second drum 23.
[197] The supplying of water 1021, the rinsing 1022, the draining of water
1023, and the
intermediate dehydration 1024 of the rinsing course 1020 are similar to the
supplying
of water 1011, the washing 1012, the draining of water 1013, and the
intermediate de-
hydration 1014 of the washing course 1010. However, unlike the washing course
1010,
no detergent but a fabric softener may be supplied to the first drum 13 and/or
the
second drum 23 in the rinsing course 1020.
[198] Furthermore, the washing course 1010 is performed one time, but the
rinsing course
1020 may be performed several times. For example, the supplying of water 1021,
the
rinsing 1022, the draining of water 1023, and the intermediate dehydration
1024 of the
rinsing course 1020 may be repeated several times.
[199] The dehydrating course 1030 is a course to separate water from the
laundry and
discharge the separated water to the outside.
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[200] The dehydrating course 1030 may include a final dehydration 1031 to
separate water
from the laundry by spinning the first drum 13 and/or the second drum 23.
[201] During the final dehydration 1031, the controller 1014 may control
the first driver
130 and/or the second driver 140 to rotate the first drum 13 and/or the second
drum 23
at high speed. As the first driver 130 and/or the second driver 140 operate,
rotational
speeds of the first drum 13 and/or the second drum 23 may be increased
stepwise.
[202] Since the operation of the washing machine 1 is completed by the
final dehydration
1031, time for which the final dehydration 1031 is performed may be longer
than the
time for which the intermediate dehydration 1014 or 1024 is performed
[203] FIG. 11 shows an example of water heating operation of a washing
machine,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 shows an example
of
operation of a heater according to the water heating operation of the washing
machine
shown in FIG. 11.
[204] The user may set a temperature of water to be used in washing and/or
rinsing through
the control panel 90. As shown in FIG. 5, the user may set the temperature of
water to
be used in washing or rinsing with the details setting buttons 51 and S2 of
the control
panel 90.
[205] Specifically, before operation of the washing machine 1, the control
panel 90 may
receive an input of a temperature (a first set temperature) of the water (for
washing or
rinsing) involved in laundry of the first washing device 10 from the user, and
receive
an input of a temperature (a second set temperature) of the water (for washing
or
rinsing) involved in laundry of the second washing device 20 from the user.
[206] The washing machine 1 may heat the water for washing or rinsing by
activating the
heater 150 based on the set temperature input through the control panel 90.
[207] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, water heating operation 1100 of the
washing machine
1 during a washing course or rinsing course in a case that both the first and
second
washing devices 10 and 20 are activated will be described.
[208] During the washing course or the rinsing course, the washing machine
1 may use the
first temperature sensor 121 to measure the temperature (first measured
temperature) of
water contained in the first tub 14, and determine whether the measured
temperature of
water in the first tub 14 is higher than the first set temperature set by the
user, in 1110.
[209] Specifically, the washing machine 1 may determine if the first
measured temperature
is higher than the first set temperature by comparing the first measured
temperature
received from the first temperature sensor 121 with the first set temperature
stored in
the first and second memories 112a and 112b.
[210] If the temperature of the water contained in the first tub 14 is
higher than the first set
temperature set by the user in 1110, the washing machine 1 determines whether
the
temperature of water contained in the second tub 24 is higher than the second
set tem-
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23
perature set by the user, in 1120.
[211] Specifically, the washing machine 1 may use the second temperature
sensor 122
installed in the second tub 24 to measure the temperature (second measured tem-
perature) of the water contained in the second tub 24, and determine if the
second
measured temperature is higher than the second set temperature by comparing
the
second measured temperature with the second set temperature stored in the
first and
second memories 112a and 112b.
[212] If the temperature of the water contained in the second tub 24 is
higher than the
second set temperature set by the user in 1120, the washing machine 1
deactivates the
first heater 18 and the second heater 28 in 1130.
[213] Furthermore, if the user may set the temperature of water involved
with laundry of
the first washing device 10 to 'cold water' and the temperature of water
involved with
laundry of the second washing device 20 to 'cold water' through the control
panel 90,
the washing machine 1 may deactivate the first heater 18 and the second heater
28.
[214] If the temperature of the water contained in the second tub 24 is not
higher than the
second set temperature set by the user in 1120, the washing machine 1
activates the
second heater 28, in 1140.
[215] In other words, since the temperature of the water contained in the
first tub 14 is
higher than the first set temperature but the temperature of the water
contained in the
second tub 24 has not yet reached the second set temperature, the washing
machine 1
may keep on activating the second heater 28 to heat the water contained in the
second
tub 24.
[216] If the temperature of the water contained in the first tub 14 is not
higher than the first
set temperature set by the user in 1110, the washing machine 1 determines
whether the
temperature of water contained in the second tub 24 is higher than the second
set tem-
perature set by the user, in 1150.
[217] The washing machine 1 may determine whether the second measured
temperature is
higher than the second set temperature by comparing the second set temperature
set by
the user and the second measured temperature measured by the second
temperature
sensor 122.
[218] If the temperature of the water contained in the second tub 24 is
higher than the
second set temperature set by the user in 1150, the washing machine 1
activates the
first heater 18, in 1160.
[219] In other words, since the temperature of the water contained in the
second tub 24 is
higher than the second set temperature but the temperature of the water
contained in
the first tub 14 has not yet reached the first set temperature, the washing
machine 2
may keep on activating the first heater 18 to heat the water contained in the
first tub 14.
[220] If the temperature of the water contained in the second tub 24 is not
higher than the
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second set temperature set by the user in 1150, the washing machine 1
activates the
first heater 18 and the second heater 28, in 1170.
[221] In other words, since the temperature of the water contained in the
first tub 14 and
the temperature of the water contained in the second tub 24 have not yet
reached the
first and second set temperatures, respectively, the washing machine 1 may
keep on ac-
tivating the first and second heaters 18 and 28 to heat the water contained in
the first
and second tubs 14 and 24.
[222] To prevent a rapid increase in power consumption of the washing
machine 1 in case
that the first and second heaters 18 and 28 are activated simultaneously, the
washing
machine 1 may alternately activate the first heater 18 and the second heater
28, in
1170.
[223] As shown in FIG. 12, the washing machine 1 may control the first
heater 18 to be
activated for a fifth time T5, and control the first heater 18 to stop being
activated after
the lapse of the fifth time T5, and may control the second heater 28 to be
activated for
a sixth time T6, and control the second heater 28 to stop being activated and
start ac-
tivating the first heater 18 after the lapse of the sixth time T6.
[224] Operation of the first and second processors of the controller 110
equipped in the
washing machine 1 in this regard will now be briefly described.
[225] The first processor 111a may output a first heating signal to
activate the first heater
18 to the first heater 18. When the activation time of the first heater 18
reaches the fifth
time T5, the first processor 111a may stop outputting the first heating signal
and send a
signal indicating that the first heater 18 stops being activated to the second
processor
111b.
[226] In response to the signal indicating that the first heater 18 stops
being activated, the
second processor 111b may output a second heating signal to activate the
second
heater 28 to the second heater 28. When the activation time of the second
heater 28
reaches the sixth time T6, the second processor 111b may stop outputting the
second
heating signal and send a signal indicating that the second heater 28 stops
being
activated to the first processor 111a.
[227] In response to the signal indicating that the second heater 28 stops
being activated,
the first processor 111a may output the first heating signal to activate the
first heater 18
to the first heater 18.
[228] FIG. 13 shows an example of operation of a washing machine, according
to an em-
bodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 14 shows an example of operation
of a
heater and operation of a drum according to operation of the washing machine
shown
in FIG. 13.
[229] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, operation 1200 of the washing machine 1
during
washing or rinsing of the first washing device 10 and the second washing
device 20
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will be described.
[230] Upon reception of a command to operate the first washing device 10
through the
control panel 90, the washing machine 1 performs washing and rinsing courses
of the
first washing device 10 in sequence.
[231] The washing machine 1 determines whether the first drum 13 starts
operating while
performing one of a washing course and a rinsing course, in 1220.
[232] In other words, the washing machine 1 may determine to start
operating the first
drum 13 when the time for which operation of the first drum 13 has been
stopped
reaches the second time T2 (see FIG. 8) during washing.
[233] Furthermore, the washing machine 1 may also determine when to start
operating the
first drum 13. For example, the washing machine 1 may determine a point at
which
water supply has been completed and a certain time has elapsed to be a
starting point to
start operating of the first drum 13, or alternatively, the washing machine 1
may
determine a point at which time for which operation of the first drum 13 has
been
stopped reaches the second time to be a starting point to start operation of
the first
drum 13.
[234] If it is not determined to start operation of the first drum 13 in
1220, the washing
machine 1 may continue to do the on-going operation.
[235] If it is determined to start operation of the first drum 13 in 1220,
the washing
machine 1 determines whether the heater 150 is operating, in 1230.
[236] Furthermore, if determining that it is time to start operation of the
first drum 13, the
washing machine 1 may determine whether the heater 150 is operating, at a
point a
predetermined time before the starting point to start operation of the first
drum 13.
[237] Determining whether the heater 150 is operating may include
determining whether at
least one of the first heater 18 and the second heater 28 is operating based
on whether
the controller 110 outputs the first heating signal and/or the second heating
signal.
[238] If it is determined that the heater 150 is not operating in 1230, the
washing machine 1
operates the first drum 13, in 1290. Operating the first drum may include
outputting the
first speed instruction to the first driving circuit 131.
[239] If it is determined that the heater 150 is operating in 1230, the
washing machine 1 de-
termines whether the second drum 23 is operating in 1240, before starting to
operate
the first drum 13.
[240] Determining whether the second drum is operating may include
determining whether
the second drum 23 is operating based on whether the controller 110 outputs
the
second speed instruction.
[241] If it is determined that the second drum 23 is not operating in 1240,
the washing
machine 1 operates the first drum 13, in 1290.
[242] If it is determined that the second drum 23 is operating for washing
or rinsing in
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1240, the washing machine 1 stops operation of the second drum 23 and starts
operation of the first drum 13, in 1260.
[243] Stopping operation of the second drum 23 may include stopping
outputting the
second speed instruction to the second driver 140 or outputting the second
speed in-
struction of '0 rpm' to the second driver 140.
[244] As shown in FIG. 14, the washing machine 1 may determine whether the
second
drum 23 is operating if it is determined that the heater 150 is activated at
the first point
of time ti, and if the second drum 23 is operating at the first point of time
ti, may stop
operation of the second drum 23 and start operation of the first drum 13. In
this way, a
rapid increase in power consumption when the first drum 13 starts being
operated
while the heater 150 is activated and the second drum 23 is operating may be
prevented.
[245] Configurations in this regard will be described in more detail by
referring to an
operation pattern of the first washing device 10 and an operation pattern of
the second
washing device 20.
[246] The first washing device 10 may rotate the first drum 13 for about 20
seconds during
washing or rinsing and then stop the first drum 13 for about 4 to 5 seconds.
In
comparison, the second washing device 20 may rotate the second drum 23 for
about 3
to 5 seconds during washing or rinsing and then stop the second drum 23 for
about 1
second. In other words, the second drum 23 operates for shorter time but more
often
than the first drum 13.
[247] Accordingly, if operation of the first drum 13 is stopped while the
second drum 23 is
operating, the first drum 13 may be operated after washing or rinsing of the
second
washing device 20 is completed. On the contrary, if operation of the second
drum 23 is
stopped while the first drum 13 is operating, the second drum 23 may be
operated at
least while the first drum 13 is stopped.
[248] Accordingly, if the heater 150, the first driver 130, and the second
driver 140 are all
operating, the washing machine 1 may stop operation of the second driver 140
of the
second washing device 20 for efficient operation of the first washing device
10 and the
second washing device 20.
[249] The washing machine 1 may count time for which operation of the
second drum 23
has been stopped since the operation of the second drum 23 was stopped,
compare the
counted time for which the second drum 23 has been stopped and a first
reference time
RT1, and determine if the counted time is longer than the first reference time
RT1, in
1270.
[250] The first reference time RT1 may be shorter than an operation time of
the first drum,
which is about 20 seconds. In other words, the second drum 23 may be operated
before
operation of the first drum 13 is stopped.
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[251] If the time for which operation of the second drum 23 has been
stopped is not equal
to or longer than the first reference time RT 1 in 1270, the washing machine 1
may
continue to count the time for which operation of the second drum 23 has been
stopped.
[252] If the time for which operation of the second drum 23 has been
stopped is equal to or
longer than the first reference time RT1 in 1270, the washing machine 1 may
resume
operation of the second drum 23, in 1280.
[253] In other words, the washing machine 1 may control the second driver
140 to rotate
the second drum 23 if the elapsed time after the first drum 13 starts
operation is equal
to or longer than the first reference time RT 1.
[254] As shown in FIG. 14, the washing machine may operate the second drum
23 again at
the second point t2 at which the time for which operation of the second drum
23 has
been stopped reaches the first reference time RT 1 or more.
[255] In this way, the washing machine 1 may prevent the sum of a current
of the heater
150, the first driving current of the first driving motor 40, and the second
driving
current of the second driving motor 45 from exceeding a predetermined upper
limit at a
point of time to start driving the first driving motor 40 by stopping
operation of the
second driving motor 45 at the point of time to start the first driving motor
40 taking
into account that a greater driving current is consumed when the driving
motors 40 and
45 increase in speed than when they remain at constant rotational speed.
[256] In other words, to prevent a rapid increase in power consumption of
the washing
machine 1 while the rotation speed of the first driving motor 40 is
increasing, the
washing machine 1 may stop operation of the second driving motor 45.
[257] On the contrary, while the first driving motor 40 remains at a
constant rotational
speed, the washing machine 1 may allow operation of the second driving motor
45,
thereby improving laundry efficiency of the second washing device 20.
[258] After this, the washing machine 1 determines whether a time for which
the first drum
13 has been operated is longer than the first time Ti (see FIG. 6), and stops
operation
of the first drum 13 if the time for which the first drum 13 has been operated
is longer
than the first time Ti.
[259] After that, the washing machine determines whether to start operation
of the first
drum 13 again, in 1220.
[260] A configuration in which operation of the second driving motor 45 is
temporarily
stopped when operation of the first driving motor 40 has to be started while
the heater
150 and the second driving motor 45 is operating has thus far been described.
[261] Another example for preventing simultaneous operation of the first
and second
driving motors and the heater will now be briefly described.
[262] In another example, the washing machine 1 may delay operation of the
second
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driving motor 45 until the operation of the first driving motor 40 is stopped
if de-
termining that operation of the second driving motor 45 needs to be started
while the
heater 150 and the first driving motor 40 is operating, and operate the second
driving
motor 45 after the operation of the first driving motor 40 is stopped.
[263] In yet another example, the washing machine 1 may stop operation of
the heater 150
if the heater 150 and the driving motors 40 and 45 are operating at the same
time.
Specifically, if determining that the first drum 13 needs to be operated for
washing or
rinsing, the washing machine 1 may determine whether the heater 150 and the
second
drum 23 are operating before driving the first drum 13, and if the heater 150
and the
second drum 23 are operating, may stop operation of the heater 150 and start
operation
of the first drum 13, and may resume operation of the heater 150 if a time for
which
the operation of the heater 150 has been stopped is longer than the first
reference time
RT1.
[264] In another example, while the heater 150 and the second driver 140
are operating, the
washing machine 1 may stop operation of the second driver 140 if the first
speed in-
struction output to the first driver 130 is higher than a predetermined
reference speed.
The predetermined reference speed may be e.g., 1 rpm.
[265] FIG. 15 shows another example of operation of a washing machine,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 16 shows an example of
operation of a
heater and operation of a drum according to operation of the washing machine
shown
in FIG. 15.
[266] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, operation 1300 of the washing machine 1
during
washing or rinsing of the first washing device 10 and the second washing
device 20
will be described.
[267] Upon reception of a command to start the first washing device 10
through the control
panel 90, the washing machine 1 performs washing and rinsing courses of the
first
washing device 10 in sequence.
[268] Specifically, the washing machine 1 starts operation of the first
drum 13 while
performing one of a washing course and a rinsing course, in 1320.
[269] The washing machine measures the first driving current DC1 applied to
the first
driving motor 40 and determines whether the measured first driving current DC1
is
greater than a predetermined reference current RC, in 1330.
[270] The reference current RC is a value to avoid the sum of the current
of the heater 150,
the second driving current of the second driving motor 45, and the reference
current
RC of the second driving motor 45 from exceeding a predetermined upper limit.
For
example, the reference current RC may be set to 6 ampere (A).
[271] If the first driving current DC1 is not greater than the reference
current RC in 1330,
the washing machine 1 may repeat comparing the first driving current DC1 and
the
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reference current RC.
[272] If the first driving current DC1 is greater than the reference
current RC, in 1330, the
washing machine 1 determines whether the heater 150 is operating, in 1340.
[273] Operation 1340 may be the same as operation 1230.
[274] If it is determined that the heater 150 is not operating in 1340, the
washing machine 1
may repeat comparing the first driving current DC1 and the reference current
RC and
determining whether the heater 150 is operating.
[275] If it is determined that the heater 150 is operating in 1340, the
washing machine 1 de-
termines whether the second drum 23 is operating for washing or rinsing in
1350.
[276] Operation 1350 may be the same as operation 1240.
[277] If it is determined that the heater 23 is not operating in 1350, the
washing machine 1
may repeat comparing the first driving current DC1 and the reference current
RC, de-
termining whether the heater 150 is operating, and determining whether the
second
drum 23 is operating.
[278] If it is determined that the second drum 23 is operating for washing
or rinsing in
1350, the washing machine 1 stops operation of the second drum 23, in 1360.
[279] In other words, to prevent the first driving current DC1 applied to
the first drum 13
from exceeding the reference current RC while the heater 150 is being
activated and
the second drum 23 is operating, the washing machine 1 may stop operation of
the
second drum 23.
[280] Stopping operation of the second drum 23 may include stopping
outputting the
second speed instruction to the second driver 140 or outputting the second
speed in-
struction of '0 rpm' to the second driver 140.
[281] As shown in FIG. 16, if it is determined that the first driving
current DC1 exceeds the
reference current RC at the first point of time ti, it is determined whether
the heater
150 is being activated and the second drum 23 is operating, and if it is
determined that
the heater 150 is being activated and the second drum is operating at the
first point of
time ti, operation of the second drum 23 is stopped.
[282] The reason why the first driving current DC1 exceeds the reference
current RC at the
first point of time t 1 is that the first driving current DC1 greater than the
reference
current RC may have been applied to the first driving motor 40 to increase the
ro-
tational speed of the first driving motor.
[283] As shown in FIG. 16, if it is determined that the first driving
current DC1 exceeds the
reference current RC at the fourth point of time t4, it is determined whether
the heater
150 is being activated and the second drum 23 is operating at the fourth point
of time
t4, and if it is determined that the heater 150 is being activated and the
second drum is
operating at the fourth point of time t4, operation of the second drum 23 is
stopped.
[284] The reason why the first driving current DC1 exceeds the reference
current RC at the
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fourth point of time t4 is that the first driving current DC1 greater than the
reference
current RC may have been applied to the first driving motor 40 to increase the
ro-
tational speed of the first drum because the rotation speed of the first drum
13 has
decreased due to e.g., unbalanced distribution of the laundry in the first
drum 13.
[285] After this, the washing machine 1 measures the first driving current
DC1 applied to
the first driving motor 40 and determines whether the measured first driving
current
DC1 is smaller than the reference current RC, in 1370.
[286] If the first driving current DC1 is not smaller than the reference
current RC in 1370,
the washing machine 1 may repeat comparing the first driving current DC1 and
the
reference current RC.
[287] If the first driving current DC1 is smaller than the reference
current RC in 1370, the
washing machine 1 may determine whether a time that has elapsed since the
first
driving current DC1 became smaller than the reference current RC is longer
than the
second reference time RT2, in 1380.
[288] The first driving current DC1 to be applied to the first driving
motor 40 may vary by
the load of the first driving motor 40. That is, for a short period of time
after the first
driving current DC1 becomes smaller than the reference current RC, the first
driving
current DC1 may increase more than the reference current RC. In other words,
the first
driving current DC1 may be changed to be unstable after it is smaller than the
reference current RC.
[289] Accordingly, the washing machine 1 may delay operation of the second
drum 23 for
a second reference time RT2 to stabilize the first driving current DC1 after
the first
driving current DC1 becomes smaller than the reference current RC. The second
reference timeRT2 to stabilize the first driving current DC1 may be about 1.2
seconds.
[290] As shown in FIG. 16, the washing machine 1 may count time that
elapses from the
second point of time t2 if the first driving current DC1 becomes smaller than
the
reference current RC at the second point of time t2.
[291] If the time that has elapsed since the first driving current DC1
became smaller than
the reference current RC is longer than the second reference time RT2 1380,
the
washing machine resumes operation of the second drum 23, in 1390.
[292] In other words, if the first driving current DC1 is stabilized after
it becomes smaller
than the reference current RC, it may be determined that the sum of the
current applied
to the hater 150 and the driving current of the driving motors 40 and 45 does
not
exceed the upper limit. Accordingly, the washing machine 1 may allow operation
of
the second driving motor 45 to improve laundry efficiency of the second
washing
device 20.
[293] For this reason, the washing machine 1 may control the second driver
140 to rotate
the second drum 23 if the elapsed time after the first driving current DC1
becomes
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smaller than the reference current RC is equal to or longer than the second
reference
time RT2.
[294] As shown in FIG. 16, the washing machine 1 may control the second
driver 140 to
rotate the second drum 23 at a third point of time t3 at which the second
reference time
RT2 has elapsed from the second point of time t2.
[295] After that, the washing machine 1 determines again whether the first
driving current
DC1 is greater than the reference current RC, in 1330.
[296] As described above, if both the first and second washing devices 10
and 20 are
performing washing or rinsing, the washing machine 1 may prevent the heater
150 and
the driving motors 40 and 45 from being operated simultaneously.
[297] Specifically, if the first driving current applied to the first
driving motor 40 is greater
than the reference current while the heater 150 and the second driving motor
45 is
operating, the washing machine 1 may stop operation of the second driving
motor 45
until the first driving current becomes smaller than the reference current.
[298] As a result, the washing machine 1 may prevent a dramatic increase in
power con-
sumption.
[299] Operation of the washing machine 1 to stop operation of one of the
driving motors 40
and 45 if the driving current of the driving motors 40 and 45 exceeds a
reference value
has thus far been described. The operation of the washing machine 1 is not,
however,
limited thereto.
[300] In another example, if the driving current of the driving motor 40
and 45 exceeds a
reference value, the washing machine 1 may stop operation of the heater 150.
[301] Specifically, the washing machine 1 may determine if the first
driving current of the
first driving motor 40 is greater than the reference value during washing or
rinsing,
determine if the heater 150 and the second drum 23 are operating if the first
driving
current is greater than the reference value, and stop operation of the heater
150 and
operate the first drum 13 if the heater 150 and the second drum 23 are
operating. In
other words, the washing machine 1 may output a signal to stop heating to the
heater
150 and output the first speed instruction to the first driver 130 to rotate
the first drum
13, and may resume operation of the heater 150 if the elapsed time after the
first
driving current becomes smaller than the reference value is longer than the
second
reference time RT2.
[302] In this way, the washing machine 1 may avoid a rapid increase in
power con-
sumption by preventing the heater 150, the first driver 130, and the second
driver 140
from being operated simultaneously in order for the sum of the current applied
to the
hater 150, the first driving current DC1 of the first driving motor 40, and
the second
driving current of the second driving motor 45 not to exceed the predetermined
upper
limit.
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[303] FIG. 17 shows another example of operation of a washing machine,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 18 shows an example of
operation of a
heater and operation of a drum according to operation of the washing machine
shown
in FIG. 17.
[304] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, operation 1400 of the washing machine 1
during
washing or rinsing of the first washing device 10 and the second washing
device 10
will be described.
[305] Upon reception of a command to start the first washing device 10
through the control
panel 90, the washing machine 1 performs washing and rinsing courses of the
first
washing device 10 in sequence.
[306] Specifically, the washing machine 1 determines whether to activate
the first heater 18
in 1410, after supplying water during one of washing and rinsing courses in
1340.
[307] The washing machine 1 may use the first temperature sensor 121
installed in the first
tub 14 to measure the temperature (the first measured temperature) of water
contained
in the first tub 14, and may activate the first heater 18 if the measured
temperature of
the water in the first tub 14 is lower than the first set temperature set by
the user
through the control panel 90.
[308] If the first heater 18 is not activated in 1410, the washing machine
1 may perform
washing or rinsing.
[309] If it is determined that the heater 18 is activated in 1410, the
washing machine 1 de-
termines whether the second drum 23 is operating for washing or rinsing in
1430.
[310] The washing machine 1 may determine if the second drum 23 is
operating before ac-
tivating the first heater 18 if the first measured temperature is lower than
the first set
temperature. Determining if the second drum is operating may include
determining
whether the second drum 23 is operating based on whether the second speed in-
struction for washing or rinsing is output.
[311] If it is determined that the second drum 23 is not operating in 1430,
the washing
machine 1 operates the first heater 18, in 1470. At this time, the controller
110 of the
washing machine 1 may output the first heating signal to the first heater 18.
[312] If it is determined that the second drum 23 is operating in 1430, the
washing machine
1 determines whether the first drum 13 is operating for washing or rinsing in
1440.
[313] The washing machine 1 may determine if the first drum 13 is operating
before ac-
tivating the first heater 18 if the first measured temperature is lower than
the first set
temperature. Determining if the first drum is operating may include
determining
whether the first drum 13 is operating based on whether the first speed
instruction for
washing or rinsing is output.
[314] If it is determined that the first drum 13 is not operating in 1440,
the washing
machine 1 operates the first heater 18, in 1470.
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[315] If it is determined that the first drum 13 is operating in 1440, the
washing machine 1
delays operation of the first heater 18, in 1450.
[316] As shown in FIG. 18, the washing machine 1 determines whether both
the first drum
13 and the second drum 14 are operating at the first point of time t 1 if
determining that
the first measured temperature is lower than the first set temperature at the
first point of
time ti, and delays operation of the first heater 18 if determining that both
the first
drum 13 and the second drum 14 are operating.
[317] While the operation of the first heater 18 is delayed, the washing
machine 1 de-
termines whether the operation of the first drum 13 is stopped, in 1460.
[318] While the operation of the first heater 18 is delayed, the washing
machine 1 de-
termines whether the operation of the first drum 13 is stopped.
[319] Determining if operation of the first drum 13 is stopped may include
determining if a
time for which the first drum 13 has been operated is equal to or longer than
the first
time Ti (see Fig. 6).
[320] If the operation of the first drum 13 is stopped in 1460, the washing
machine 1
operates the first heater 18, in 1470. At this time, the controller 110 of the
washing
machine 1 may output the first heating signal to the first heater 18.
[321] Subsequently, operation 1200 of the washing machine 1 as shown in
FIG. 13 may be
performed. Specifically, since the first heater 18 and the second drum 23 are
operating,
the washing machine 1 may stop operation of the second drum 23 before
operating the
first drum 13.
[322] Although operation of the first heater 18 is described above,
operation 1400 of the
washing machine 1 may be equally applied to the second heater 28.
[323] As described above, if both the first and second washing devices 10
and 20 are
performing washing or rinsing, the washing machine 1 may prevent the heater
150 and
the driving motors 40 and 45 from being operated simultaneously.
[324] In other words, if operation of the heater 150 is to be started while
both the first and
second driving motors 40 and 45 are operating, the washing machine 1 may delay
operation of the heater 150 until operation of one of the first and second
driving motors
40 and 45 is stopped.
[325] As a result, the washing machine 1 may prevent a dramatic increase in
power con-
sumption.
[326] FIG. 19 shows another example of operation of a washing machine,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 20 shows an example of
operation of a
heater and operation of a drum according to operation of the washing machine
shown
in FIG. 19.
[327] As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, operation 1500 of the washing machine 1
during
washing or rinsing of the first washing device 10 and dehydration of the
second
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washing device 20 will be described.
[328] The washing machine 1 starts dehydration of the second washing device
20, in 1510.
[329] When water drainage from a washing course or a rinsing course of the
second
washing device 20 is completed, the washing machine 1 may start dehydration of
the
second washing device 20.
[330] The washing machine 1 determines whether to start operation of the
second drum 23,
in 1520.
[331] The washing machine 1 may start intermediate dehydration of a washing
course, in-
termediate dehydration of a rinsing course, or final dehydration of a
dehydration
course. The washing machine may control the second driver 140 to rotate the
second
drum 23 at high speed during dehydration of the second washing device 20.
[332] Furthermore, the washing machine 1 may determine whether to start
operation of the
first drum 13 at the start of dehydration.
[333] Specifically, if it is determined that operation of the second drum
23 is started in
1520, the washing machine 1 determines whether the first drum 13 is operating
for
washing or rinsing in 1530. Determining whether the first drum is operating
may
include determining whether the first drum 13 is operating based on whether
the first
speed instruction is output.
[334] If the first drum 13 is operating in 1530, the washing machine 1
determines whether
the first heater 18 is operating, in 1540.
[335] Since the second washing device 20 is dehydrating, the washing
machine 1 may only
determine whether the first heater 18 is operating. If it is determined that
the first
heater 18 is operating in 1540, the washing machine 1 stops operation of the
first
heater 18, in 1550.
[336] Dehydration of the second washing device 20 may be continued for
about 5 to 10
minutes. If washing or rinsing of the first washing device 10 is stopped
during the de-
hydration of the second washing device 20, the user might misunderstand this
as a mal-
function of the washing machine 1. Furthermore, if dehydration of the second
washing
device 20 is delayed during washing or rinsing of the first washing device 20,
the user
might also misunderstand this as a malfunction of the washing machine 1.
[337] Accordingly, for convenience for the user, the washing machine 1 may
stop
operation of the first heater 18 during dehydration of the second washing
device 20. At
this time, the controller 110 of the washing machine 1 may not output the
first heating
signal to the first heater 18 or may output a first stop heating signal to the
first heater
18.
[338] As shown in FIG. 20, the washing machine 1 may determine whether the
first drum
13 and the first heater 18 are operating at the first point of time ti if the
second
washing device 20 starts dehydration at the first point of time, and may stop
operation
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of the first heater 110 and start operation of the second drum 23 at the first
point of
time ti if it is determined that the first drum 13 and the first heater 18 are
operating at
the first point of time ti.
[339] The washing machine 1 operates the second drum 23 if the operation of
the first
heater 18 is stopped, in 1560.
[340] Furthermore, while the second drum 23 is rotating under the operation
of the second
driver 140, the rotational speed of the second drum 23 may be changed as shown
in
FIG. 20.
[341] The washing machine 1 determines whether the dehydration is stopped,
in 1570.
[342] The dehydration may be performed for a predetermined set time or for
a time set by
the user.
[343] The washing machine 1 may determine whether the time for which the
dehydration
has been performed is longer than the set time.
[344] If it is determined that the dehydration is completed in 1570, the
washing machine 1
stops operation of the second drum 23, in 1580.
[345] If the time for which the dehydration has been performed is longer
than the set time,
the washing machine 1 may control the second driver 140 to stop rotation of
the
second drum 23.
[346] When the dehydration is stopped, the washing machine 1 resumes
operation of the
first heater 18, in 1590. At this time, the controller 110 of the washing
machine 1 may
output the first heating signal to the first heater 18.
[347] If the first drum 13 is not operating in 1530 or the first heater 18
is not operating in
1540, the washing machine 1 operates the second drum 23 in 1610, determines
whether dehydration of the second washing device 20 is stopped in 1620, and
stops
operation of the second drum 23 in 1630 if it is determined that the
dehydration of the
second washing device 20 is stopped in 1620.
[348] Operations 1610, 1620, and 1630 may be the same as the operations
1560, 1570, and
1580.
[349] While it was described that operation of the first heater 18 is
stopped during de-
hydration of the second washing device 20, operation of the second heater 28
may be
stopped during dehydration of the first washing device 1.
[350] As described above, if one of the first and second washing devices 10
and 20 is de-
hydrating and the other is washing (or rinsing), the washing machine 1 may
prevent the
heater 150 and the driving motors 40 and 45 from being operated
simultaneously.
[351] Specifically, if the first heater 18 and the first driving motor 40
are operating for
washing or rinsing and the second driving motor 45 starts being operated for
de-
hydration, the washing machine 1 may stop operation of the first heater 18
while the
second driving motor 45 is operating for dehydration.
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[352] Furthermore, if the second heater 28 and the second driving motor 45
are operating
for washing or rinsing and the first driving motor 40 starts being operated
for de-
hydration, the washing machine 1 may stop operation of the second heater 28
while the
first driving motor 40 is operating for dehydration.
[353] As a result, the washing machine 1 may prevent a dramatic increase in
power con-
sumption.
[354] In the embodiment, during rotation of the first drum of the first
washing device and
the second drum of the second washing device, the speed and accelerated speed
may
be controlled by obtaining load information at each start point of the
operation and
changing parameters based on the load information. This will be explained in
another
example.
[355] FIG. 21 is a control block diagram of a washing machine, according to
another em-
bodiment of the present disclosure.
[356] As shown in FIG. 21, the washing machine 1 may include the control
panel 90, the
first drum 13, the driver 130, the second drum 23, and the second driver 140,
and may
further include a controller 300 and a storage 350, and may include a first
detector 310
or a second detector 320, or may include both the first and second detectors
310 and
320.
[357] The control panel 90, the first drum 13, the first driver 130, the
second drum 23, and
the second driver 140 are described above, so the details thereof will be
omitted below.
[358] Control operation of the controller 300 will be described in more
detail later.
[359] The first detector 310 is provided to detect operation of at least
one of the first drum
13 and the first driver 130 and obtain the associated information.
[360] The first detector 310 may include at least one of a vibration
detector 311, a laundry
detector 312, a rotational speed detector 313, and a current measurer 314.
[361] The vibration detector 311 detects vibrations of the first drum 13 or
the surrounding
parts (e.g., the first tub 120) caused by rotation of the first drum 13, and
outputs an
electric signal corresponding to the detected vibration. The vibration
detector 311 may
be implemented using e.g., a piezoelectric acceleration type vibration sensor
or a
cantilever vibration type vibration sensor.
[362] The laundry detector 312 may detect the form or extent of movement of
the laundry
inside the first drum 13 while the first drum 13 is operating. The laundry
detector 312
may be implemented using e.g., a photo sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a
pressure-
sensitive sensor, a weight sensor, etc.
[363] The rotational speed detector 313 may detect the rotational speed of
the first driving
shaft 31 of the first driver 130 or the rotational speed of the first drum 13.
[364] The current measurer 314 may measure the level of a current applied
to the first
driver 130 and send the measured level of the current to the controller 300.
At this
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time, a control signal from the controller 300 is sent and applied to the
first driver 130
in the form of an electric signal.
[365] The current measurer 314 may measure the level of a current of the
electric signal
applied, and send the measurement result to the controller 300 in the form of
an
electric signal. In this case, the current measurer 314 may measure the level
of a
current applied to the first driver 130 by receiving a feedback signal
corresponding to
the electric signal applied to the first driver 130 and measuring the level of
the current,
which is the feedback signal.
[366] The first detector 310 may further include a water stream detector
(not shown) for
detecting or measuring the form of movement of a water stream inside the first
drum
13, e.g., a movement direction or velocity of the water stream. The first
detector 310
sends various kinds of detected information to the controller 300.
[367] The second detector 320 is provided to detect operation of at least
one of the second
drum 23 and the second driver 140 to obtain the associated information.
[368] The second detector 320 may include at least one of a vibration
detector 321, a
laundry detector 322, a rotational speed detector 323, and a current measurer
324.
[369] The second detector 320 may further include a water stream detector
(not shown).
[370] The vibration detector 321, the laundry detector 322, the rotational
speed detector
323 and the current measurer 324 of the second detector 320 are substantially
the same
as the vibration detector 311, the laundry detector 312, the rotational speed
detector
313 and the current measurer 314 of the first detector 310, respectively, in
terms of the
structure, operation and embodiment, so the description thereof will be
omitted below.
[371] The second detector 320 sends various kinds of detected information
to the controller
300.
[372] The storage 350 may store various kinds of information required for
operation of the
washing machine 1. For example, the storage 350 may store applications related
to
computation, processing, and control operations of the processor 200 or
information
required for the computation, processing and control operations, and more
particularly,
may store at least one of a first parameter 351, a second parameter 352, and a
reference
value 353.
[373] Referring to FIGS. 22 to 25, a procedure in which the controller 300
controls at least
one of the first and second washing devices 10 and 20 of the washing machine 1
will
be described in detail.
[374] FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining operation of a controller, and
FIG.23 is a graph
for explaining operation of a drum based on a first parameter.
[375] In FIG 23, the X-axis represents the time and the Y-axis represents
RPM of the drum
110, 210. Positive and negative signs on the Y-axis mean different rotational
di-
rections, and the rotational direction corresponding to the positive sign and
the ro-
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tational direction corresponding to the negative sign may be arbitrarily
defined by the
designer.
[376] Referring to FIG. 22, the controller 300 may determine operation of
at least one of
the first and second washing devices 10 and 20 based on predefined settings in
the
storage 350 and/or signals output from the control panel 90 according to the
user's ma-
nipulation of the control panel 90, in 301.
[377] The controller 300 may generate a certain control signal based on
information
received from at least one of the first and second detectors 310 and 320, and
determine
operation of at least one of the first and second washing devices 10 and 20
based on
the generated control signal.
[378] Operation of the first washing device 10 may include operation of the
first drum 13
and/or operation of the first driver 130 coupled to the first drum 13, and
operation of
the second washing device 20 may include operation of the second drum 23
and/or
operation of the second driver 140 coupled to the second drum 23.
[379] The determining of operation of at least one of the first and second
washing devices
and 20 may be performed after at least one of a washing course, a rinsing
course,
and a dehydration course is started and/or in the process of performing at
least one of a
washing course, a rinsing course, and a dehydration course.
[380] The controller 3000 may determine at least one parameter 351
(hereinafter referred to
as a first parameter) relating to operation of at least one of the first and
second washing
devices 10 and 20, and determine operation of the second washing device 20
based on
the first parameter 351.
[381] The first parameter 351 may be temporarily or non-temporarily stored
in the storage
350.
[382] The controller 300 may determine the first parameter 351
corresponding to each
washing device, i.e., each of the first and second washing devices 10 and 20.
In this
case, the controller 300 may determine the first parameter 351 only for
operation of the
second washing device 20, or for each of the plurality of washing devices 10
and 20.
[383] In the latter case where the first parameter 351 is determined for
each of the plurality
of washing devices 10 and 20, the first parameters 351 corresponding to the
plurality
of washing devices 10 and 20 may be the same or may be different from each
other.
[384] The first parameter 351 may include at least one of operation ratio,
rotational ac-
celeration and rotational deceleration.
[385] The rotational acceleration refers to an increasing rate of
rotational speed of the drum
13, 23 or the driving shaft 31, 41 in time, and the rotational deceleration
refers to a de-
creasing rate of rotational speed of the drum 13, 23 or the driving shaft 31,
41 in time.
[386] The operation ratio refers to a ratio of a period in which the driver
130, 140 performs
relatively active operation during a reference period and/or a period in which
the drum
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13, 23 of the washing device 10, 20 is rotated with acceleration during the
reference
period.
[387] Specifically, referring to FIG. 23, in a period Pon between a first
point ml and a third
point m3 or a period Ponl between a fifth point m5 and a seventh point m7, the
driver
140, 240 performs relatively active operation by increasing the rotational
speed of the
driving shaft 31, 41 or the drum 13, 23 (al, a2) or maintaining the rotational
speed of
the driving shaft 31, 41 or the drum 13, 23 at a relatively high speed R1 in
response to
reception of a control signal or application of a current.
[388] The rotational acceleration refers to an increasing rate (i.e., a
slope of a plot corre-
sponding to al or a2 of FIG. 23) of the rotational speed in this process.
[389] On the contrary, in a period Poff between a third point m3 and a
fifth point m5 and a
period Poff2 between a seventh point m7 and a ninth point m9, the driver 140,
240
performs inactive operation or performs no operation by decreasing the
rotational
speed of the driving shaft 31, 41 or the drum 13, 23 (dl, d2) or maintaining
the ro-
tational speed of the driving shaft 31, 41 or the drum 13, 23 at 0 or nearly
0.
[390] The rotational deceleration refers to a decreasing rate (i.e., a
slope of a plot corre-
sponding to dl or d2 of FIG. 23) of the rotational speed in this process.
[391] The operation ratio refers to a period Pon, Pon 1 in which the driver
130, 140
increases the rotational speed of the driving shaft 31, 41 or the drum 13, 23
or
maintains it at the relatively high speed R1 to the reference period Pon+Poff,
Ponl+Poffl, Pon+Poff+Ponl+Poffl.
[392] The reference period may include a period in which rotation of the
drum 13, 23 or
the driving shaft 31, 41 in a particular direction is started and stopped (a
period from
ml to t5), or may include a period in which rotation of the drum 13, 23 or the
driving
shaft 31, 41 in both directions is started and stopped (a period from ml to
t8).
[393] In this way, once the operation of at least one of the first and
second washing devices
and 20 is determined in 301, the controller 300 may determine whether the de-
termined operation is to perform an operation defined in advance, e.g., an
initial
operation, in 303.
[394] The initial operation includes a single operation or a series of
operations to be
performed first in a case that the washing device 10, 20 performs a certain
course.
[395] If a command to start operation of the washing machine 1 is input
when the existing
washing, rinsing, and dehydration courses are completed or when the washing
device
10, 20 has not been operated for a predetermined period of time, or operation
of the
washing device 10, 20 is done or in a stand-by state, the controller 300 may
determine
that the initial operation is required, and if not, may determine that the
initial operation
is not required.
[396] If it is determined that the initial operation is not required, the
controller 300 may
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control the washing device 10, 20 based on the first parameter 351.
[397] Specifically, if the washing device 10, 20 is performing an
operation, the controller
300 may determine that the initial operation is not required and control the
washing
device 10, 20 based on the first parameter 351. In this case, the controller
300 may
control the first washing device 10 only, or control the second washing device
20 only,
or control both the first and second washing device 10 and 20.
[398] A procedure of controlling the washing device 10, 20 based on the
first parameter
351 will now be described in detail. For convenience of explanation, operation
of the
second washing device 20 will be focused as an example. However, the following
concepts or operations are not exclusively applied to the second washing
device 20, but
may be equally applied or applied with partial modification to the first
washing device
10.
[399] Referring to FIG. 23, the second driver 140 coupled to the second
drum 23 of the
second washing device 20 may receive an instruction to start operation from
the
controller 300 at an initial point of time mO. Instead of receiving the
instruction to start
operation, a current required to drive the second driver 140 may be applied.
The
second driver 140 starts operation at the first point of time ml. In other
words, the
second driving shaft 41 starts rotating in a first direction at the first
point of time ml.
[400] The second driver 140 may start operation immediately after receiving
the control
signal (so, tO and tl may be very close or the same) or start operation from
the first
point ml after a certain period Pi has elapsed after reception of the control
signal (it).
[401] Once the second driver 140 starts operation, the rotational speed of
the second
driving shaft 41 increases according to the determined rotational acceleration
from the
first point ml to the second point m2, and in response, the rotational speed
of the
second drum 23 also increases according to the determined rotational
acceleration (al).
[402] The second driver 140 may remain at almost constant speed from the
second point
m2 to the third point m3 (i.e., the acceleration or deceleration is 0 or
nearly 0). The
period from the second point m2 to the third point m3 may be determined based
on the
operation ratio determined by the controller 300.
[403] If the second driver 140 receives an instruction to stop operation
from the controller
300 or application of a current to the second driver 140 is stopped at the
third point m3,
the rotational speed of the second drum 23 decreases according to the
determined ro-
tational deceleration (dl).
[404] For a certain period of time after the deceleration is done, the
second drum 23 may
not be rotated (i.e., the rotational acceleration or rotational deceleration
of the second
drum 23 or the second driving shaft 41 has the value of 0 or nearly 0).
[405] At the fifth point of time m5, the second drum 23 starts being
rotated in the opposite
direction (hereinafter, called a second direction) to the first direction
according to the
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operation of the second driver 140 under the control of the controller 300.
[406] As described above, the rotational speed of the second drum 23 is
accelerated till the
sixth point of time m6 (a2), maintained at a constant speed from the sixth
point m6 to a
seventh point m7, and decelerated from the seventh point m7 to an eighth point
m8
(d2). In the process of deceleration (d2), the second driver 140 may perform
de-
celeration operation or stop operation.
[407] If the second driver 140 stops operation, the rotational speed of the
second drum 23
is gradually decelerated by friction with an external part or water. If
necessary, a
certain braking device may be further used in the deceleration process (d2).
The
braking device may control the second driving shaft 41 or the second drum 23
to
maintain or change the rotational deceleration. The braking device may control
the ro-
tational deceleration using an object such as a drum that applies friction or
using fluid
pressure of air or liquid.
[408] After that, the second drum 23 remains in the stopped state from the
eighth point m8
to a ninth point m9 and starts to be rotated in the opposite direction to the
second
direction, i.e., in the first direction from the ninth point m9. The first
direction may be
a clockwise direction while the second direction may be a counterclockwise
direction.
[409] The above procedure may be continuously repeated until at least one
of the washing,
rinsing, and dehydration courses is completed.
[410] As such, the second driver 140 alternately rotates the second driving
shaft 41, and ac-
cordingly, the second drum 23 is alternately rotated to wash, rinse, or
dehydrate the
laundry in the second drum 23.
[411] FIG. 24 is a graph for explaining operation of a drum based on a
second parameter in
a case that an initial operation is performed.
[412] If it is determined that an initial operation needs to be performed,
the controller 300
determines a parameter 352 (hereinafter, called a second parameter) related to
an initial
operation of at least one of the first and second washing devices 10 and 20 to
correspond to the initial operation, and determines at least one of the first
and second
washing devices 10 and 20 based on the second parameter 352. In this case, the
controller 300 may determine the second parameter 352 by obtaining it from the
storage 350.
[413] Like the first parameter 351, the second parameter 352 may be
determined to
correspond to each of the first and second washing devices 10 and 20, and if
necessary,
the controller 300 may determine the second parameter for only one of the
washing
devices 10 and 20 or for each of the plurality of washing devices 10 and 20.
[414] The second parameter 352 may include at least one of an operation
ratio (hereinafter,
called a second operation ratio), a rotational acceleration (hereinafter,
called a second
rotational acceleration), and a rotational deceleration (hereinafter, called a
second de-
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celeration).
[415] The second rotational acceleration may be determined to have an
absolute value
relatively lower than the rotational acceleration of the first parameter 351
(hereinafter,
called a first rotational acceleration).
[416] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the second rotational
acceleration (all,
a12) is relatively lower than the first rotational acceleration al, a2, and
accordingly, for
the second parameter 352 based operation, an increase in rotational speed of
the drum
110, 210 is relatively slower than in the first parameter 351 based operation.
[417] In this case, if an acceleration section (ml to m2, t5 to t6) based
on the first
parameter 351 and an acceleration section (m11 to m12, m15 to m16) based on
the
second parameter 352 are the same or similar, the maximum rotational speed
R11, R12
of the drum 110, 210 that operates based on the second parameter 352 may be
relatively lower (AR11, AR12) than the maximum rotational speed R1, R2 of the
drum
110, 210 that operates based on the first parameter 351.
[418] The second rotational deceleration may be determined to have an
absolute value
relatively lower than the rotational deceleration of the first parameter 351
(hereinafter,
called a first rotational deceleration).
[419] Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, the second rotational deceleration (dl
1, d12) may be
defined to have a relatively more gentle slope than the first rotational
deceleration (dl,
d2). Accordingly, for the second parameter 352 based operation, a decrease in
ro-
tational speed of the drum 110, 210 is slower than in the first parameter 351
based
operation.
[420] The second operation ratio may be arbitrarily defined by the
designer. In other
words, the second operation ratio may be determined regardless of the
operation ratio
(hereinafter, called a first operation ratio) based on the first parameter
351.
[421] The second operation ratio may be determined to be the same as or
lower than or
higher than the first operation ratio.
[422] In the case of performing the initial operation, the controller 300
controls the
washing device 10, 20 based on the second parameter, as shown in FIG. 24.
[423] For example, the controller 300 sends an instruction to start
operation to the second
drum 23 of the second washing device 20 at an initial point of time m10, and
in
response, the second drum 23 starts to be operated in the first direction
immediately
(m10 and ml 1 are the same or nearly same) or after the lapse of a certain
time.
[424] The rotational speed of the second drum 23 increases (all) with the
second rotational
acceleration after the rotation is started. Since the second rotational
acceleration is
relatively slower than the first rotational acceleration as described above,
the rotational
speed of the second drum 23 increases relatively slowly in the case of
performing the
initial operation. Furthermore, the maximum rotational speed R11 of the second
drum
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23 may also be relatively lower than when controlled based on the first
parameter.
[425] The second drum 23 is rotated at the maximum rotational speed R11 for
a certain
period (m12 to t13) and starts to be rotated with the second rotational
deceleration
from a thirteenth point m13.
[426] Since the second rotational deceleration has a relatively greater
value than the first
rotational deceleration as described above, the rotational speed of the second
drum 23
decreases relatively slowly in the case of performing the initial operation.
[427] After the rotation of the second drum 23 is done, i.e., after the
rotational speed
becomes 0 or nearly 0 from m14 to m15, the second drum 23 starts being rotated
in the
second direction from the fifth point m15. In this case, the rotational speed
of the
second drum 23 may be accelerated relatively more smoothly till the sixteenth
point of
time m16 (a12), maintained at a constant speed from the sixteenth point m16 to
a sev-
enteenth point m17, and decelerated relatively more smoothly from the
seventeenth
point m17 to an eighteenth point m8 (d12).
[428] After the initial operation is done, the controller 300 may determine
whether to
further perform the initial operation. That is, the controller 300 may
determine whether
to stop the initial operation. In this case, the controller 300 may determine
whether the
initial operation needs to further be performed based on a predefined
condition.
[429] For example, the predefined condition may include an occasion when
the rotational
speed of the drum 13, 23 does not reach a predetermined target rotational
speed, an
occasion when an overcurrent is applied to the driver 130, 140 coupled to the
drum 13,
23, an occasion when the laundry distribution is unbalanced inside the drum
13, 23, an
occasion when the vibration of the drum 13, 23 is determined to be lower than
a certain
reference, and/or an occasion when the fluid velocity of a water stream inside
the drum
13, 23 is faster than a certain reference. Besides, other various conditions
that may be
considered by the designer may be set to determine whether the initial
operation needs
to further be performed.
[430] The rotational speed of the drum 13, 23 may be measured by the
rotational speed
detector 313, 323, and the current applied to the driver 130, 140 may be
measured by
the current measurer 314, 324.
[431] The unbalanced distribution of the laundry may be detected by the
laundry detector
312. The unbalanced distribution of the laundry means a situation where
clothes are
gathered at a particular location inside the drum 110, 210 without being
widely spread
in the drum 110, 210. Furthermore, the vibration may be detected by the
vibration
detector 311, and the fluid velocity of a water stream may be measured by a
water
stream measurer.
[432] If it is determined that the initial operation needs to further be
performed, the
controller 300 may control the drum 110, 210 to be operated with the initial
operation,
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as described above in connection with FIG. 24.
[433] For example, if the controller 300 controls the drum 12, 22 based on
the initial
operation but determines that the rotational speed of the drum 12, 22 detected
by the
rotational speed detector 313, 323 is lower than the predefined target
rotational speed,
the controller 300 determines that the initial operation needs to further be
performed
and may thus control the drum 12, 22 to keep on operating under the initial
operation
as described above in connection with FIG. 24.
[434] If it is determined that the initial operation does not need to
further be performed,
initial operation is determined to be stopped, in 307. Subsequently, the
controller 300
may control the drum 10, 20 based on the first parameter 351, in 309, as
described
above with reference to FIG. 23. In this case, the controller 300 may call out
the first
parameter 351 stored in the storage 350 after determining operation of a drum
in 301,
and control the drum 12, 23 based on the first parameter 351.
[435] Referring to FIGS. 25 to 28, a procedure in which the controller 300
controls the first
and second washing devices 10 and 20 of the washing machine 1 will now be
described in detail.
[436] FIG. 25 is a control block diagram of a washing machine, according to
another em-
bodiment of the present disclosure.
[437] Referring to FIG. 25, the washing machine 1 may include the control
panel 90, the
first drum 13, the first driver 130, the second drum 23, the second driver
140, the
controller 300, and the storage 350.
[438] The control panel 90, the first drum 13, the first driver 130, the
second drum 23, and
the second driver 140 are described above, so the details thereof will be
omitted below.
[439] The controller 300 may generate a control signal for at least one of
the first and
second drivers 130 and 140 based on at least one of first load data 354,
second load
data 356, third load data 357, and a first load switching condition 358. This
will be
described later.
[440] The storage 350 may store various information required for operation
of the washing
machine 1, for example, at least one of the first load data 354, the second
load data
356, the third load data 357, and the first load switching condition 358.
[441] The load data 354, 356, and 357 refers to data for a load applied to
at least one of the
first drum 13 and the second drum 23 or at least one of the first driver 130
and the
second driver 140 due to the laundry thrown into the at least one of the first
drum 13
and the second drum 23.
[442] The load increases substantially in proportion to the amount, weight,
or water content
of the laundry. The load data 354, 356, and 357 may include at least one of
data for a
load measured in a washing course, a rinsing course, and/or a dehydration
course, data
for a load measured in advance, and data for a load estimated by the designer.
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[443] The load data 354, 356, and 357 may include the first load data 354
representing a
first load, the second load data 356 representing a second load, and the third
load data
357 representing a third load. The first, second, and third loads may be
different from
each other: for example, the second load may be defined as being smaller than
the first
load and the third load may be defined as being higher than the first load.
[444] In this regard, it is possible to omit the third load data 357. The
first load data 354,
the second load data 356, and the third load data 357 may be defined
arbitrarily by the
designer's choice. Details of the first load data 354, the second load data
356, and the
third load data 357 will be described later.
[445] In addition, details of the structure, operation, or embodiment of
the controller 300
and the storage 350 are the same as what are described above, so the detailed
de-
scription thereof will be omitted.
[446] The washing machine 1 may include at least one of the first detector
310 and the
second detector 320, as shown in FIG. 25.
[447] The first detector 310 may include at least one of the rotational
speed detector 313,
the current measurer 314, and the rotational acceleration detector 315. In
addition, the
first detector 310 may further include the vibration detector 311 or the
laundry detector
312 as described above.
[448] The rotational acceleration detector 315 measures rotational
acceleration or rotational
deceleration of the first drum 13, and outputs and sends an electric signal
corre-
sponding to the measurement result to the controller 300. The rotational
acceleration
detector 315 may be implemented using a coin type, piezoelectric type, thermo
type, or
strain gauge type acceleration sensor, and even using an inertia-based
acceleration
sensor or gyro sensor if required.
[449] The second detector 320 may include at least one of the rotational
speed detector
323, the current measurer 324, and the rotational acceleration detector 325.
Like what
is described above, the second detector 320 may further include at least one
of the
vibration detector 321 and the laundry detector 322.
[450] The rotational speed detector 313 and the current measurer 314 of the
first detector
310 and the rotational speed detector 323 and the current measurer 324 of the
second
detector 320 are described above in connection with FIG. 23, so the detailed
de-
scription thereof will be omitted.
[451] Referring to FIGS. 26 to 28, a procedure in which the controller 300
controls at least
one of the first and second washing devices 10 and 20 of the washing machine 1
will
be described in detail.
[452] FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining operation of a controller
according to another
embodiment, and FIG. 27 is a view for explaining an amount of laundry
corresponding
to a first load. FIG. 28 is a view for explaining an amount of laundry
corresponding to
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a second load. In the following description, for convenience of explanation,
an
example where the controller 300 controls operation of the second drum 23 will
be
focused.
[453] However, the following concepts, procedures, structures, or
operations are not
limited to controlling the second washing device 20, but may be equally
applied or
applied with partial modification to a process of controlling the first
washing device
10.
[454] Referring to FIG. 26, the controller 300 may first read out the first
load data 354
from the storage 350 and set the first load obtained from the first load data
354 to a
load of the second drum 23. In other words, the load of the second drum 23 is
set to be
the first load. Setting the load of the second drum 23 to the first load may
be performed
in response to the start of operation of the washing machine 1.
[455] The first load may include a load corresponding to an amount of
laundry typically
expected to be thrown in by the user. For example, the first load may refer to
a load
applied to the second drum 23 or the second driver 140 when the laundry W11 to
W14
is properly thrown into the second drum 23, as shown in FIG. 27. In other
words, the
first load may refer to a load corresponding to the laundry W11 to W14 smaller
than
the maximum amount of what is thrown into the second drum 23 and larger than a
minimum amount of what is thrown into the second drum 23.
[456] When the load of the second drum 23 is set to the first load, the
controller 300 may
control the second driver 140 according to the first load, in 333.
Accordingly, the
second drum 23 is rotated with acceleration in at least one direction to
perform the
washing, rinsing, or dehydrating course. In this case, when the first load is
applied, the
controller 300 controls the second driver 140 to perform an operation
corresponding to
the first load by applying a current or sending a corresponding control signal
for the
second driver 140 to properly perform the washing, rinsing, or dehydrating
course.
[457] The controller 300 may determine whether a change in load is required
based on the
first load switching condition 358 stored in the storage 350. In other words,
the
controller 300 may determine whether to continue to control the operation of
the
second drum 23 based on the first load or control the operation of the second
drum 23
based on a load other than the first load, e.g., the second load, in 335.
[458] In this case, the controller 300 may determine whether a change in
load is required
after the washing machine performs a predetermined operation based on the
first load.
For example, the controller 300 may determine whether a change in load is
required
based on the first load switching condition 358 after the accelerated rotation
al, a2,
a12, a22 of the second drum 23 is done.
[459] The first load switching condition 358 may include at least one of
whether the ro-
tational speed of the second drum 23 exceeds reference speed 358a, whether the
ro-
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tational acceleration of the second drum 23 exceeds reference acceleration
358b, and
an error between a target rotational speed 358c and actual rotational speed of
the
second drum 23.
[460] For example, the controller 300 may determine to change the first
load to the second
load if the rotational speed measured with the rotational speed detector 323
exceeds the
reference speed 385a set by the designer or the user, if the rotational
acceleration
calculated based on a series of rotational speeds measured with the rotational
ac-
celeration detector 325 or detected by the rotational speed detector 323
exceeds the
reference acceleration 358b defined by the designer or the user, and/or if a
difference
between the rotational speed measured with the rotational speed detector 323
and the
target rotational speed 358c defined by the designer or the user does not
exceed a pre-
determined reference value, and otherwise, may determine to maintain the first
load.
[461] If it is determined to maintain the first load, the controller 300
sets the load of the
second drum 23 to the first load, in 337 and continues to control the second
driver 140
based on the first load in the same way as it has done before, in 339.
[462] Otherwise if it is determined to change the first load to the second
load, the controller
300 sets the load of the second drum 23 to the second load, in 337 and
controls the
second driver 140 based on the second load, in 339. Accordingly, the second
drum 23
is rotated with acceleration in at least one direction based on at least one
of rotational
speed, rotational acceleration, and rotational deceleration different from
what is
described above.
[463] The second load may be defined as a load of when a relatively small
amount of
laundry is thrown in than in an occasion when a normal amount of laundry is
thrown
in. For example, the second load may refer to a load applied to the second
drum 23 or
the second driver 140 when a relatively small amount of laundry W21 to W24,
e.g.,
one or two shirts, are thrown into the second drum 23, as shown in FIG. 28.
[464] If the second driver 140 is controlled based on the load of the
second drum 23
estimated and defined to be the first load, which is relatively high, even if
the load of
the second drum 23 is actually a relatively low load, for example, the second
load or a
similar load, the laundry thrown into the second drum 23 may be fixed to the
edge of
the second drum 23, which may cause unbalanced distribution of the laundry. In
this
case, a particular course is unexpectedly re-tried or strong vibration might
occur to the
washing machine 1. Such adverse reaction may be prevented by setting the load
of the
second drum 23 to the second load, which is relatively low, and controlling
the second
driver 140 based on the second load, as described above.
[465] The controller 300 may also set the load of the second drum 23 to a
third load if the
rotational speed of the second drum 23 exceeds another predetermined reference
speed,
if the rotational acceleration of the second drum 23 exceeds another
predetermined
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reference acceleration, and/or if a difference between the target rotational
speed and
the actual rotational speed of the second drum 23 exceeds another
predetermined
reference value. The third load may refer to a load of when the laundry as
much as a
maximum limit or the similar amount is thrown into the second drum 23.
[466] If the second drum 23 is controlled based on the changed second load
or if the second
drum 23 is controlled based on the second load for another reason, the
controller 300
may determine whether the second load is to be changed based on a second load
switching condition 359, in 339-1.
[467] The second load switching condition 359 may include whether an
estimated flux
value exceeds a predetermined reference value. Furthermore, the second load
switching condition 359 may be implemented based on whether an error between
an
operation of the second drum 23 under an instruction from the controller 300
and an
actually measured operation of the second drum 23 exceeds a reference value.
In this
case, the controller 300 may determine whether the error between the operation
of the
second drum 23 under an instruction from the controller 300 and the actually
measured
operation of the second drum 23 exceeds a reference value by comparison
between the
level of a current or the magnitude of a frequency of an alternate current
(AC) applied
to the motor and the actual operation.
[468] If the error between the operation of the second drum 23 under the
instruction and
the actually measured operation of the second drum 23 exceeds the reference
value, the
controller 300 may determine that the second load switching condition 359 is
met, and
change and set the load of the second drum 23 from the second load to the
first load, in
339-2. Subsequently, the controller 300 may continue to control the second
driver 140
according to the first load, in 339-3.
[469] On the contrary, if the error between the operation of the second
drum 23 under the
instruction and the actually measured operation of the second drum 23 does not
exceed
the reference value, the controller 300 may determine that the second load
switching
condition 359 is not met, maintain the load of the second drum 23 to be the
second
load in 339-2, and continue to control the second driver 140 according to the
second
load in 339-3.
[470] Various embodiments of a control method of a washing machine will now
be
described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30.
[471] FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a control method of a washing machine,
according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[472] Referring to FIG. 29, a washing machine determines a first parameter,
in 400.
[473] The determining of the first parameter may be performed right after
the washing
machine is started or after the lapse of a certain period of time after the
washing
machine is started. The washing machine may include at least one drum, e.g.,
two
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drums.
[474] The first parameter may include various setting values related to
operation of at least
one drum.
[475] If there are a plurality of drums, the first parameter may be set for
each of the
plurality of drums or for some of the plurality of drums.
[476] The first parameter 351 may include at least one of the first
operation ratio, the first
rotational acceleration, and the first rotational deceleration of at least one
drum.
[477] Once the first parameter is determined, the washing machine may
determine whether
an initial operation needs to be performed, in 402. The initial operation
includes a
single operation or a series of operations to be performed first and foremost
in
performing a particular course.
[478] If it is determined that the initial operation does not need to be
performed because the
drum is already performing a certain operation or is on temporarily standby
after
performing a particular operation in 402, the washing machine may control a
drum cor-
responding to the first parameter, which is determined using the first
parameter, in 414.
Accordingly, at least one drum operates based on the first parameter.
[479] If the initial operation needs to be performed in 402, the first
parameter may be
stored in a storage equipped in the washing machine and/or in a separate
external
device, in 404. At the same time, or subsequently, the washing machine
determines the
second parameter, in 406.
[480] The second parameter may be determined to correspond to the first
parameter.
[481] Like the first parameter, the second parameter may include various
setting values
related to operation of at least one drum. If there are a plurality of drums,
the second
parameter may be determined for each of the plurality of drums. In this case,
the
second parameters determined for the plurality of drums may be the same or
different
from each other. Alternatively, the second parameter may be determined for
some of
the plurality of drums. For example, the second parameter may include at least
one of
the second operation ratio, the second rotational acceleration, and the second
rotational
deceleration of at least one drum.
[482] The second rotational acceleration may be determined to have an
absolute value
relatively lower than the first rotational acceleration, and the second
rotational de-
celeration may be determined to have an absolute value relatively less than
the first ro-
tational deceleration. The second operation ratio may be defined arbitrarily
by the
designer's choice.
[483] Once the second parameter is determined, the washing machine may
perform a
certain operation based on the second parameter, in 408. For example, at least
one
drum of the washing machine performs accelerated rotation or decelerated
rotation
based on the determined second rotational acceleration and the second
rotational de-
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celeration.
[484] When the operation of the washing machine based on the second
parameter is
completed, in 410, the washing machine determines whether an additional
operation is
required, in 412. In other words, it is determined whether the washing machine
is to
perform an initial operation. Whether the initial operation needs to be
performed may
be determined using at least one of e.g., a movement form of a water stream in
the
drum, a movement form of the laundry in the drum, an unbalanced level of the
laundry,
rotational speed of the drum, vibration of the drum, and a current applied to
the driver
for driving the drum.
[485] If it is determined that the initial operation needs to be performed
in 412, the washing
machine may further perform a certain operation based on the second parameter
a
certain number of times or for a certain period of time, in 408, 410.
[486] If it is determined that the initial operation does not need to be
performed in 412, the
washing machine obtains the predetermined first parameter from e.g., a storage
and
performs a certain operation based on the first parameter in 414.
[487] The operations 402 to 414 may not be repeated or may be repeated at
least two or
more times according to the designer's or user's choice, in 416.
[488] FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a control method of a washing machine,
according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[489] Referring to FIG. 30, a washing machine determines a certain
operation first, in 420.
[490] The certain operation may include at least one of a plurality of
operations that may be
performed by the washing machine. The at least one operation may include e.g.,
an ac-
celerated rotation operation, i.e., an operation in which the rotational speed
of the drum
increases.
[491] The at least one drum may be operated according to a load set before
the operation of
the drum. The load may be selected by the controller or the user from among a
plurality of loads.
[492] The plurality of loads may include, e.g., a first load, a second
load, and a third load.
In other words, the at least one drum may be operated based on a load, e.g.,
the first
load, selected from among the plurality of loads.
[493] The first, second, and third loads may be differently defined. For
example, the
second load may be defined as being smaller than the first load and the third
load may
be defined as being higher than the first load.
[494] If a preset operation of a drum, e.g., an accelerated rotation
operation of at least one
drum is done in 422 and a load set to correspond to the at least one drum is a
separately
predefined load, e.g., the first load in 424, the washing machine determines
whether a
change in load is required in 427, 428.
[495] In this case, whether a change in load is required may be determined
based on a
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separately set first load switching condition.
[496] The first load switching condition may include at least one of
whether the rotational
speed of the drum exceeds reference speed, whether the rotational acceleration
of the
drum exceeds reference acceleration, and an error between a target rotational
speed
and actual rotational speed of the drum. .
[497] Specifically, if the rotational speed of the drum exceeds the
reference speed defined
by the designer or the user, the rotational acceleration of the drum exceeds
the
reference acceleration defined by the designer or the user, and an error
between a
target rotational speed and actual rotational speed of the drum is smaller
than a prede-
termined reference value, it may be determined that a change in load is
required.
[498] On the contrary, if the rotational speed of the drum is less than the
reference speed
defined by the designer or the user, the rotational acceleration of the drum
is less than
the reference acceleration defined by the designer or the user, or the error
between a
target rotational speed and actual rotational speed of the drum is greater
than the prede-
termined reference value, it may be determined that a change in load is not
required.
[499] If it is determined that a change in load is required in 428, the
washing machine sets
a load corresponding to at least one drum to the second load in 430, and
operates the at
least one drum based on the second load in 432.
[500] Otherwise if it is determined that a change in load is not required,
the washing
machine operates the at least one drum based on the set first load, in 426.
[501] If a preset operation of a drum, e.g., an accelerated rotation
operation of at least one
drum is done in 422 and a load set to correspond to the at least one drum is
another
separately predefined load, e.g., the second load in 425, the washing machine
de-
termines the second load switching condition in 434.
[502] As shown in FIG. 30, determining the second load switching condition
may be
performed even after the at least one drum is operated based on the second
load
according to the result of determination of the first load switching
condition.
[503] The second load switching condition may include whether an estimated
flux value
exceeds a predetermined reference value, which may be determined based on
whether
an error between an actual operation and the target operation of the at least
one drum
exceeds a predetermined reference value, in 434, 436.
[504] In the present embodiment, if the error between the actual operation
and the target
operation of the at least one drum is larger than the predetermined reference
value, it
may be determined that a change in load is required, and otherwise if the
error between
the actual operation and the target operation of the at least one drum is less
than the
predetermined reference value, it may be determined that a change in load is
not
required.
[505] If it is determined that a change in load is required from the
determination of the
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second load switching condition, in 436, the washing machine sets the load of
the at
least one drum to the first load from the second load, in 438. The washing
machine
operates the at least one drum based on the first load, in 426.
[506] On the contrary, if it is determined that a change in load is not
required from the de-
termination of the second load switching condition, in 440, the load change is
not
performed and the washing machine maintains the load of the at least one drum
to be
the second load, in 440. In this case, the washing machine operates the at
least one
drum with the second load, in 426.
[507] If the set operation of the drum, e.g., an accelerated rotation
operation of a least one
drum is done in 422 and a load set to correspond to the at least one drum is
neither the
first load nor the second load in 425, the washing machine may set the drum to
a
default value and operates the drum based on the default value, in 426.
[508] The operations 424 to 426 may be repeated at least one time according
to the
designer's or the user's choice in an embodiment.
[509] Meanwhile, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be
implemented in the
form of recording media for storing instructions to be carried out by a
computer. The
instructions may be stored in the form of program codes, and when executed by
a
processor, may generate program modules to perform operation in the
embodiments of
the present disclosure. The recording media may correspond to computer-
readable
recording media.
[510] The computer-readable recording medium includes any type of recording
medium
having data stored thereon that may be thereafter read by a computer. For
example, it
may be a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a flash memory, an
optical
data storage device, etc.
[511] The embodiments of the present disclosure have thus far been
described with
reference to accompanying drawings. It will be obvious to people of ordinary
skill in
the art that the present disclosure may be practiced in other forms than the
em-
bodiments as described above without changing the technical idea or essential
features
of the present disclosure. The above embodiments are only by way of example,
and
should not be interpreted in a limited sense.
[512] Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary
embodiment,
various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art.
It is
intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications
as fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
